Should educators be concerned? The impact of short videos on rational thinking and learning: A comparative analysis

Short videos are highly attractive and are becoming increasingly popular among young adults due to their unique properties. However, they also pose a risk of getting used to surface processing and suppressing slow analytic thinking. So far, little is known about the potential impact of short video use (SVU) on learning variables. Therefore, this series of studies aimed to examine the consequences of SVU on rational thinking, academic delay of gratification (ADOG), and a surface learning approach (Study 1) and examine the situational impact of watching a short video collection on those variables except ADOG (Study 2). Further, it was examined whether short video-based learning material is suitable for teaching low-complex material (Study 2). In Study 1, participants ( n = 169) completed questionnaires regarding SVU, rational thinking, ADOG, and surface learning approach. For Study 2, participants ( n = 123) took part in an online experiment with a 2 (short video collection; present vs. not present) x 2 (learning material; short video-based vs. text-based) between-subject design, completed questionnaires regarding SVU, rational thinking, surface learning approach and answered a quiz regarding knowledge acquisition. The findings reveal that SVU is negatively associated with rational thinking and positively associated with a surface learning approach. Watching a short video collection led to a higher situational surface learning approach, and participants who learned with short videos scored lower on the quiz than those who learned with text. Limitations, implications, and future directions are discussed. • Short video use is negatively associated with rational thinking. • Short video use is positively associated with a surface learning approach. • Watching short videos predicts a preference for a surface learning approach. • Performance in knowledge acquisition was lower in the short video modality.