Designing instructional materials with desktop publishing software: The effect of white-space variations on learning

Abstract

As more and more people gain access to personal computers and powerful desktop-publishing software, many teachers and trainers are producing their own instructional materials using desktop publishing. The new desktop-publishing software offers a wide variety of graphic and text combinations. Three popular text-graphic treatments are run-around, wrap-around, and transparent text. In addition to changing the shape of the text surrounding the graphic, the first two types of text-graphic placement can utilize variations in the amount of white space surrounding the graphic as well. This study utilized the wrap-around text format with variations in the amount of white space surrounding the graphic to investigate effect of white-space variations on reading speed and comprehension. The subjects for this study were 128 university students enrolled in an undergraduate computer literacy course. ANOVA revealed a significantly lower mean score in comprehension for the treatment with one-half inch of white space surrounding the graphic. Guidelines are suggested concerning the appropriate amount of white space to use in order to take advantage of aesthetics while maintaining as little interference with reading as possible