Exploring fonts as retrieval cues in text-based learning

A growing body of research focuses on optimizing retrieval processes to help learners recall information from memory. The context-dependent memory effect suggests that information retrieval is more effective when the retrieval context matches the learning context. This phenomenon has been investigated in a variety of study materials and samples. However, there is a research gap in which this effect has not yet been investigated with font. Therefore, the font may act as a contextual retrieval cue, making it easier for learners to recall the presented information. In this context, the present experiment assumes that a match between the font used during learning (encoding phase) and that used during testing (decoding phase) improves retrieval processes and thus learning performance, while a mismatch has a negative effect. To test this assumption, 130 university students were randomly assigned to one condition of a two (font of learning texts: Haettenschweiler vs. Times New Roman) × two (font of learning questions: Haettenschweiler vs. Times New Roman) between-subjects design. Contrary to expectations, using the same font for encoding and decoding did not improve learning performance. Furthermore, learners did not report higher levels of mental effort when they had to work on learning questions presented in the same font as the learning texts. Although the font of the learning text is the most salient feature, it does not seem to serve as an effective retrieval cue in text-based learning.