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Seductive Details behind Hyperlinks--Harmful or Helpful for Learning?

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Title: Seductive Details behind Hyperlinks--Harmful or Helpful for Learning?
Language: English
Authors: Lisa Bender (ORCID 0000-0002-8972-6558), Alexander Renkl (ORCID 0000-0001-7971-0619), Katharina Scheiter (ORCID 0000-0002-9397-7544), Juliane Richter (ORCID 0000-0001-8418-0931), Alexander Eitel (ORCID 0000-0001-6403-3467)
Source: Journal of Computer Assisted Learning. 2026 42(2).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 20
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Hypermedia, Electronic Learning, Attention Control, Relevance (Education), Self Control, Time on Task
DOI: 10.1002/jcal.70205
ISSN: 0266-4909
1365-2729
Abstract: Background: According to the seductive-details effect, practitioners should avoid interesting but irrelevant adjuncts (e.g., fun facts, comics) in learning materials as they might increase extraneous cognitive load and thus hamper learning. As the digitalisation of learning continues to increase, the question arises as to whether this recommendation also applies to interesting but irrelevant hyperlinks that are often included in online materials. Objectives: We investigated whether students perceive and use seductive details that appear behind hyperlinks differently compared to seductive details that are integrated in the learning material directly on the screen. We were assuming that students would (a) perceive hyperlink seductive details as less relevant than integrated seductive details and thus not be negatively affected in their cognitive processing (i.e., informed use of seductive details) and (b) use hyperlink seductive details to take a small break or for gratification, thereby supporting them in their persistent online learning (i.e., needs-oriented use of seductive details). Methods: In a 3 × 2-between-subjects study, participants (N = 165) worked online on a learning unit about chemistry models without seductive details or with them, either with explicit information about their irrelevance for the learning goal or without such explicit information. Moreover, we presented the details integrated in the learning material or as mouse-over hyperlinks. Results and Conclusion: Although students perceived hyperlink seductive details as less relevant than integrated details, their learning outcomes were still impaired when they did not receive an additional explicit irrelevance instruction. Hence, our study reveals no evidence that students use seductive details via hyperlinks differently from integrated ones, but instead that seductive details via hyperlinks should also be avoided.
Abstractor: As Provided
Notes: https://osf.io/c267j/overview
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1500542
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Seductive Details behind Hyperlinks--Harmful or Helpful for Learning?
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lisa+Bender%22">Lisa Bender</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8972-6558">0000-0002-8972-6558</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Alexander+Renkl%22">Alexander Renkl</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7971-0619">0000-0001-7971-0619</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Katharina+Scheiter%22">Katharina Scheiter</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9397-7544">0000-0002-9397-7544</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Juliane+Richter%22">Juliane Richter</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8418-0931">0000-0001-8418-0931</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Alexander+Eitel%22">Alexander Eitel</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6403-3467">0000-0001-6403-3467</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Computer+Assisted+Learning%22"><i>Journal of Computer Assisted Learning</i></searchLink>. 2026 42(2).
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: 20
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hypermedia%22">Hypermedia</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electronic+Learning%22">Electronic Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Attention+Control%22">Attention Control</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Relevance+%28Education%29%22">Relevance (Education)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Control%22">Self Control</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Time+on+Task%22">Time on Task</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1002/jcal.70205
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  Data: 0266-4909<br />1365-2729
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Background: According to the seductive-details effect, practitioners should avoid interesting but irrelevant adjuncts (e.g., fun facts, comics) in learning materials as they might increase extraneous cognitive load and thus hamper learning. As the digitalisation of learning continues to increase, the question arises as to whether this recommendation also applies to interesting but irrelevant hyperlinks that are often included in online materials. Objectives: We investigated whether students perceive and use seductive details that appear behind hyperlinks differently compared to seductive details that are integrated in the learning material directly on the screen. We were assuming that students would (a) perceive hyperlink seductive details as less relevant than integrated seductive details and thus not be negatively affected in their cognitive processing (i.e., informed use of seductive details) and (b) use hyperlink seductive details to take a small break or for gratification, thereby supporting them in their persistent online learning (i.e., needs-oriented use of seductive details). Methods: In a 3 × 2-between-subjects study, participants (N = 165) worked online on a learning unit about chemistry models without seductive details or with them, either with explicit information about their irrelevance for the learning goal or without such explicit information. Moreover, we presented the details integrated in the learning material or as mouse-over hyperlinks. Results and Conclusion: Although students perceived hyperlink seductive details as less relevant than integrated details, their learning outcomes were still impaired when they did not receive an additional explicit irrelevance instruction. Hence, our study reveals no evidence that students use seductive details via hyperlinks differently from integrated ones, but instead that seductive details via hyperlinks should also be avoided.
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  Data: https://osf.io/c267j/overview
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  Data: 2026
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