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A research team at the University of Cologne has found that video summaries of scientific studies that are presented in a more simple manner, using simpler language and visual presentation, lead to better comprehension of the scientific content.

However, on the other hand, the so-called "easiness effect" was observed in the study's participants: The more easily understandable video summaries were perceived as being more credible and the study participants had greater confidence in their own ability to evaluate the study themselves.

The by the team of Cologne media psychologists led by Professor Dr. Dr. Kai Kaspar was published under the title "A new dimension of simplified science communication: The easiness effect of science popularization in animated video abstracts" in the journal Frontiers in Psychology.

The results of scientific studies are usually presented in specialist journals and begin with a summary of the study. This is primarily aimed at people who understand the relevant technical language and have prior knowledge of the topic.

A common approach to making scientific information accessible to a wider audience is to translate these summaries of studies into simpler language and more appealing formats, such as short videos. These kinds of video summaries of scientific studies are becoming increasingly popular.

However, the simplified presentation of scientific content can also have negative effects on readers and viewers. The easiness effect describes a distorted cognitive evaluation of information, wherein the simplified information presented is deemed more credible than it objectively is.

This simpler information also generates an increased confidence in the viewer's own judgment on the subject area, while at the same time the desire to cross-check the information, for example by consulting experts, can decrease. This effect has already been demonstrated using text-based summaries of scientific studies.

The study has now investigated for the first time whether this effect can also be identified in the case of video-based summaries, and whether informing viewers about this effect in advance can prevent it from actually occurring. The researchers translated original text summaries of four scientific studies into short videos, with two video versions of each: one version was in technical jargon with a more complex visual presentation and the other version used simpler language and presentation.

A total of 179 people took part in the experiment and were randomly assigned to one of four test conditions: the participants watched either the videos that were easier to understand or the more challenging videos. In addition, around half of the people in each group received detailed information about the easiness effect and its potentially negative outcomes in the form of an educational video before being shown the video summaries. The researchers assumed that being informed in this way might possibly limit the easiness effect.

After watching each video summary, participants rated the comprehensibility of the study, its perceived credibility, confidence in their own ability to evaluate the study, and their perceived ability to make decisions based on the study results and without further information. Participants were also asked how much more they would like to know about the study topic and whether they would, for example, comment on, share or like the corresponding video on a social media platform.

The results showed that the video summaries in simpler language and using simpler presentation actually led to a better understanding of the scientific content. Alongside this, the easiness effect was also evident: the more easily understandable video summaries were perceived as being more credible and the study participants had greater confidence in their own ability to evaluate the study themselves.

However, this effect occurred regardless of whether the participants were sensitized to this potential outcome in advance and informed about it. The participants' interest in finding out more about the studies and about their potential reactions on social media were equally pronounced in all four groups.

"This experiment shows that the 'easiness effect' can be reliably generated with video summaries and is very robust, as it persists even when people have been informed about the effect and its potentially negative impact on their own competence assessment," says study leader Kaspar.

"The results underline the need for responsible strategies in science communication and show how video-based information transfer can be optimized."