The Effect of Knowledge Maps That Incorporate Gestalt Principles on Learning

Abstract Knowledge maps have been found to be an effective communication tool for organizing information so that it can be recalled later. It was predicted that adding gestalt principles of similarity (using colors and shapes) and proximity (using groupings) would complement the information-organization feature of knowledge maps and thereby enhance recall. The students were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 study formats (text, unenhanced maps, and enhanced maps) and were asked to study the information in them. Following a distraction task, the students completed a free-recall task. Returning 2 weeks later, the students again engaged in free recall. The students remembered more during immediate than during delayed recall, and the students who had studied enhanced maps recalled more information than the students who had studied unenhanced maps or text. The results suggest that the use of color, shape, and proximity facilitated learning by improving the organization of information.