Cognitive and affective outcomes of learning from knowledge maps

The purpose of the present experiment was to replicate and extend research on knowledge maps by examining both cognitive and affective outcomes associated with knowledge map processing. Students studied a 1500 word passage on the autonomic nervous system in the form of a knowledge map or traditional text and completed a free recall test on the information 2 days later. On both days of the experiment, students completed subjective graphs on which they were required to rate their motivation, anxiety, and concentration over the course of the experiment. Significant differences were found between the map and text groups on measures of recall, subjective concentration, and motivation, with those in the map group scoring significantly higher. In addition, correlational analyses indicated that recall measures and the subjective measures were not significantly related. The results indicate that the positive impact of knowledge maps goes beyond objective cognitive outcomes to include subjective ratings of concentration and motivation as well.