Is the problem the PDF or the content it contains?

The content can be excellent. But the format determines whether anyone actually consumes it. Kirk-Johnson's research shows that people avoid materials they perceive as effortful, regardless of their actual quality.¹ Great content in a format the brain rejects is great content wasted.

Would people read the PDF if it were shorter?

It would help, but it doesn't solve the core problem. A 5-page PDF is still passive screen reading, without feedback, without visible progress, and with the "screen inferiority" documented by Delgado et al.² Brevity is necessary but not sufficient — the format also needs multimodality and traceability.

Are there employees who prefer reading documents?

Yes, a minority. TechSmith data shows that 83% of people choose video for instructional content.⁹ Format decisions can't be designed for the exception. If 80% of your team doesn't complete the training, the format is failing the majority.

What do I do if I can't eliminate PDFs all at once?

Start with the content that performs worst: what nobody completes or what generates the most questions. Convert those first into short video modules and measure the impact before scaling. Platforms like Vidext let you import PDFs and PowerPoints directly and transform them into video without a production team.

How do I know if my team actually consumes current training?

That's part of the problem: with a PDF, you don't know. You have no data on who opened it, how far they read, or where they abandoned it. Formats that export in SCORM or xAPI offer that visibility built in: who watched each module, how far they got, what they replayed, and which assessments they passed. That data is the foundation for improving training and sustaining compliance audits. ---

Why no one reads training PDFs

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Álvaro Martínez

Content Specialist

Engagement

Reading time: 10 minutes

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