How Interest Affects Learning from Text

Abstract

This report reviews the research on text-based interest, defined as those elements within texts that create interest for the majority of readers. Three issues are covered: (a) what kinds of information are considered interesting, both theoretically and empirically; (b) what effects popular strategies for creating interest have on learning outcomes; and (c) how interest influences where students focus their attention in a text. A major finding of the review is that the practice of adding personalized anecdotes and highly interesting but nonessential information to texts has a detrimental effect on the learning of important information. The report concludes with suggestions for alternative strategies for creating interest in texts, for educational practice, and for future research.