Bizarreness Effect

What is the bizarreness effect?

The bizarreness effect is better recall for bizarre than ordinary material under some learning conditions. It is related to distinctiveness and the von Restorff effect, but is not an exact synonym for isolation effects.

Example: an image that stands out

A purple cow among ordinary cows is a useful illustration of distinctiveness. The unusual item stands out because of what surrounds it. A whole field of strange creatures changes that comparison.

Research and conditions

McDaniel and Einstein’s 1986 experiments found a benefit when bizarre and ordinary imagery appeared within the same list. The benefit depended on processing instructions and the surrounding learning context.

The results favored distinctiveness over an explanation based only on extra attention. Bizarre imagery did not improve recall merely because it was bizarre.

Using bizarre examples in teaching or advertising

The findings do not support a “stranger is always better” rule. The list, the instructions, and the way the material is processed matter.

An unusual example may be memorable without improving understanding of the underlying idea. In a lesson, ask whether the student remembers the principle as well as the image. In an advertisement, ask whether people remember the product or merely the odd scene. Those outcomes need to be checked separately.