How reading in single- and multiple-column types influence our cognitive load: an EEG study

Al-Samarraie, Hosam; Eldenfria, Atef; Zaqout, Fahed; Price, Melissa Lee

doi:10.1108/el-01-2019-0006

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 45 publications

(53 reference statements)

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“…This can be particularly difficult while reading on-screen texts, where aids such as using a pen or a finger are harder to use. In line with this observation is a study by Al Samarraie and Price who shows that a two-column layout required a reduced cognitive load, as revealed at EEG [27]. Reading long straight lines could then impair the ability to search for information and leap to the next idea [28].…”

Section: A Useful Choice?mentioning

confidence: 86%

Striving for Modernity: Layout and Abstracts in the Biomedical Literature

2020

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Most academic journals have a fairly consistent look: they are structured similarly, their text is divided into similar sections; for example, they have an abstract at the beginning of the manuscript, and their text is usually organized in two columns. There may be different reasons for this similarity, ranging from the need to contain publication costs by using less page space to conforming to an internationally well-accepted format that may be perceived as the hallmark of academic articles. We surveyed 35 medical journals founded before 1960 and looked for their change in format over time and how this was experienced by and explained to readers. We then discussed what recent research has shown about the effects of layout on reading, looking for further explanations as to why this format was so successful.

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Section: A Useful Choice?mentioning

confidence: 86%

Striving for Modernity: Layout and Abstracts in the Biomedical Literature

2020

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“…The results also showed that both icons and symbols were highly perceived by Arab users. One reason to this is that the intended context can be recognized more quickly with icons and images than by reading a text message or label (Al-Samarraie et al , 2019 b , 2019 c ). This finding is in line with the work of Meyer and Bernier (2010) and Al-Samarraie et al .…”

Section: Discussion and Future Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of Hofstede's cultural dimensions in the design of user interface: the case of Arabic

Alsswey

Al-Samarraie

2021

AIEDAM

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A user interface (UI) design that meets the preferences, differences, and needs of the group of users can potentially increase the usability of a system. Users, in general, feel more familiar with the context that reflects their cultural values and practices. The Arabic culture plays a significant role in how Arab users interact and communicate with technologies. The customs, artifacts, and traditions of the Arab world are different in nature from the Western cultures. Thus, it is essential to consider these differences when designing the UI prototype. This study investigated the role of certain cultural preferences in the design of UI for Arab users. A think-aloud approach and Hofstede's cultural dimensions were used on 23 Arab users to generate the necessary design guidelines for the UI of mobile health application. Then, 78 participants were recruited to evaluate the proposed UI design. The usability results showed high satisfaction among Arab users about the role of culture in the design of the UI. Findings from this study can be used by designers and developers to aid their design of UI for group-specific cultural preferences and values.

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“…The participants silently read each of the three passages in a single column, two columns, and three columns. Al-Samarraie et al (2019) found that less energy was used up in participants reading passages in a two-column format compared to the single and three-column format. The study informs designers on how to minimise cognitive load and maximise a learner's cognitive performance when designing textual documents.…”

Section: Columns and Cognitive Processingmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…A more recent study by Al-Samarraie et al (2019) studied the effects of column number and cognitive load while reading. To measure cognitive load, they performed electroencephalography (EEG; a method that measures brain activity during a task).…”

Section: Columns and Cognitive Processingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the impact of visual course outlines in the Faculty of Science at McMaster University (2 April 2022)

Dong-Hamilton¹,

Silver²,

Moisse³

2022

Preprint

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Introduction Course outlines are instrumental to a student’s success in post-secondary education. We argue that there are fundamental issues with the current state of course outlines at McMaster University. As a result, students often miss important information. To address these issues, we created scannable visual course outlines using UI/UX design principles that aimed to reduce the time students spend finding specific information and to increase comprehension for each specific component of the course outline. Methods Through a single-blind interventional randomised control trial, we explored differences between the standard and visual course outline in terms of speed and comprehension among McMaster students. We also captured key perceptions of each course outline as described by the students through a thematic analysis. Results Participants in the intervention group (n = 84) found that the visual course outline was quicker to locate all components, easier to understand, and quicker to understand than the control group (n = 91) that received the standard course outline (all p < 0.05). The intervention group found the visual course outline more appealing and expressed they were more likely to refer back to it during a semester (all p < 0.05). The intervention group also had more positive sentiments toward the visual course outline than the control group had toward the standard. Conclusions Visual course outlines help increase knowledge synthesis, understanding, and perceptions of the course content. We recommend that other faculties at McMaster University and other universities adopt visual course outlines to further support student learning.

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How reading in single- and multiple-column types influence our cognitive load: an EEG study

Cited by 10 publications

References 45 publications

Striving for Modernity: Layout and Abstracts in the Biomedical Literature

Striving for Modernity: Layout and Abstracts in the Biomedical Literature

The role of Hofstede's cultural dimensions in the design of user interface: the case of Arabic

Evaluating the impact of visual course outlines in the Faculty of Science at McMaster University (2 April 2022)

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