Effectiveness of Multimedia Pedagogical Agents Predicted by Diverse Theories: a Meta-Analysis

Multimedia pedagogical agents are on-screen characters that allow users to navigate or learn in multimedia environments. Several agents’ characteristics may moderate their instructional effectiveness, including appearance, gender, nonverbal communication, motion, and voice. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis test hypotheses from diverse theories predicting the effects of these characteristics. We tested predictions cognitive load theory, theory learning, computers social actors, agency uncanny valley, action observation network. Our 32 effect sizes (N = 2104) revealed small overall (g+ 0.20), showing learning with was more effective than without agents. As predicted by redundancy coherence principle 2D 0.38) tended be 3D 0.11). actors hypothesis, most characteristics, voice, appeared not effectiveness. conclude help through multimedia, students able similarly different types