THE EFFECT OF FONT SIZE ON THE RETENTION OF TEXT INFORMATION PRESENTED ON COMPUTER DISPLAY AND ON PAPER

Abstract

Developing effective computer displays is an important aspect of creating materials for e-learning. This study examined the efficacy of different font sizes used on VDTs (video display terminals) and on print media. It is often thought that people can memorize and remember more when reading from paper than from VDTs. Based on four experiments using different font sizes, the results of the present study showed that different font sizes affect the recall accuracy of content when reading from a VDT. With a 13-point font more content was recalled from a print medium than from a VDT. However, recall differences were not found between the two media for smaller font sizes. This finding suggests that, with font adjustment, the same levels of reading retention can be achieved from VDTs.