Common Craft Blog
The Impact of Appearing Difficult
By leelefever on February 08, 2009 - 10:56am
Via Explainst:
This Scientific American article describes their elegant experiment to see how people react when something “feels” difficult. They presented two different groups of college students with printed instructions for a regular exercise routine. While the wording was the same in both sets of instructions, one group received instructions printed in a hard-to-read Brush font (a font that looks like brush strokes) while the other group received instructions printed in good ol’ fashioned Arial.
The results were crystal clear. People who received Arial instructions were more enthusiastic about the exercise routine than the Brush font folks, and predicted it would be much easier. The psychologists tried the experiment again using a sushi roll recipe and saw similar results.
We've had a number of discussions about our paperworks format and how it's perceived by viewers. When talking to people, they often mention accessibility - that the format gives them a feeling like "Oh, I can get this, it's not going over my head." Could it be that one reason people like our videos is that their perception of difficulty, based on the simple drawings, makes them more likely to keep watching and act on the ideas?
The Impact of Appearing Difficulty
I think you are right -- if you had a talking head and a PowerPoint, people would instantly tune up their brains to think - this is IMPORTANT, it is time to learn SOMETHING NEW here. Because your videos are simple and fun, people relax and the learning happens.
Relaxing improves learning
I agree with KerryJ. If people relax and look at something, they are much more susceptible to information coming in. Teeth gritted determination to learn something is overrated.
The Impact of Appearing Difficult
You are right. I am really empress on your explained method. I looked also your attached video for explaining they are all so fun and easy ways to learn. I am really thanking full to you for this. Come back on your site after my exam SY0-101 . Security + Certification Exam. Then next exam is N10-003.. CompTIA Network+ Certification
I love your site because, I found it very informative and I bookmarked it. Thanks you very much
You're what?
An empress?
Simplicity
Buy furniture from Ikea and check out the directions... they are so minimal and virtually text-free. I have never had a problem assembling a piece, but I hate instructions. They make it a painless to look at as possible. I think the hand-drawn aspect of the CC videos really make them appealing. They look like they are meant for a kindergarten class.
Simple living - High Thinking
As the proverb goes - it is always better to present things simply so as to attract a wider range of audience.
Some-one might be a genius, but very few people will understand his thoughts or ideas if he or she speaks at his standard of understanding something. Only a select few, who has same level or near about IQ level could understand what he/she is trying to say.
That way he/she will loose the greater audience - i.e. the public and hence if its a product/services - it won't sell. Pure & Simple.
you guys are the epitome of the KISS principle
Hope people know what that 5th word is!
I have just found you guys and love what I'm seeing and what I'm learning. For example, I'd looked up RSS on Wikipedia. Say what? But NOW I get it.
And I love the (probably unintended) irony of Test King's post above. Good luck TK.
I have a similar problem
I have a similar problem with so called 'text speak'. A friend of mine has started using it in her e mails, and I find it so difficult to read. I spend more effort on understanding the 'words' than understanding the message. Perhaps it's my age!