TY - JOUR
T1 - Animated Pedagogical Agents
T2 - The Effect of Visual Information on a Historical Figure Application
AU - Heller, R.
AU - Procter, M.
PY - 2009/1
Y1 - 2009/1
N2 - The role of Animated Pedagogical Agents (APAs) depends on an understanding of the persona effect as a mechanism for increasing student engagement and motivation. We argue that historical figure applications of APAs may be helpful to identify the parameters that give rise to a persona effect. Given the importance of visual information, an experimental approach was used to examine how different image conditions would affect perception of a historical figure APA interaction. Eighty-eight participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions; no image, static image, or animated image. Contrary to expectations, the no image condition was associated with significantly higher ratings for 6 of the 12 measures, including 3 measures of social presence. These findings stand in contrast to previous research and suggest that historical figure applications may be unique in their evocation of a persona effect and valuable for understanding the nature of the persona effect.
AB - The role of Animated Pedagogical Agents (APAs) depends on an understanding of the persona effect as a mechanism for increasing student engagement and motivation. We argue that historical figure applications of APAs may be helpful to identify the parameters that give rise to a persona effect. Given the importance of visual information, an experimental approach was used to examine how different image conditions would affect perception of a historical figure APA interaction. Eighty-eight participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions; no image, static image, or animated image. Contrary to expectations, the no image condition was associated with significantly higher ratings for 6 of the 12 measures, including 3 measures of social presence. These findings stand in contrast to previous research and suggest that historical figure applications may be unique in their evocation of a persona effect and valuable for understanding the nature of the persona effect.
KW - Animated Pedagogical Agents
KW - Conversational Agents
KW - Historical Figure Agents
KW - Persona Effect
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=72449155155&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4018/jwltt.2009010104
DO - 10.4018/jwltt.2009010104
M3 - Journal Article
AN - SCOPUS:72449155155
SN - 1548-1093
VL - 4
SP - 54
EP - 65
JO - International Journal of Web-Based Learning and Teaching Technologies
JF - International Journal of Web-Based Learning and Teaching Technologies
IS - 1
ER -