This study examined if the number of interruptions caused by interesting side notes in learning text is critical for the detrimental effect that is generally found when such seductive details are included, and consequently, if this effect can be mitigated by grouping these details together instead of interspersing them. Results confirmed that…

Based on the assumptions of cognitive load theory, this study aims to utilize the eye movement data collected from multiple experts to scaffold novice graphic designers. The study has two main stages. In the first stage, eye tracking was used to record the eye movements of 7 experts, who covered eight topics explaining how to use Photoshop. The…

Feedback penetrates many walks of our lives, and its importance in L2 teaching and assessment is well recognised. However, while corrective feedback and writing feedback have been the focus of much L2 research and classroom practice, there seems relatively little attention to feedback on spoken interactional skills. Concomitantly, translating…

Background: Process data captured by computer-based assessments provide valuable insight into respondents' cognitive processes during problem-solving tasks. Although previous studies have utilized process data to analyse behavioural patterns or strategies in problem-solving tasks, the connection between latent cognitive states and their…

This article presents a theoretical review of and methodological guidelines for the study of two key notions in second language acquisition research, complexity and difficulty. The term "complexity" has gained considerable currency over the past decades and has taken on a wide range of meanings. We argue for a more restricted…

Feedback significantly impacts learning outcomes, yet interindividual differences in feedback preferences remain understudied. We postulate and test a fitting feedback framework assuming that feedback framings matching personal preferences produce positive effects. We conducted two learning experiments including feedback representing different…

Forum discussions in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) play a crucial role in promoting learning engagement and academic achievement. In particular, discussion topics significantly influence learners' emotional and cognitive engagement. However, the complex interrelationships among these factors remain underexplored. This study introduces an…

Background: Effective translation practice requires a profound understanding of source and target languages. Previous research acknowledges the role of context in translation, but few explore this through analysis of cognitive load translations. Purpose: This study aims to address a gap in educational research by investigating how contextual…

Cognitive load theory describes the mechanisms for the transfer of information from human working memory to long-term memory. This theory posits that increasing the number of interactive elements, such as interconnections, may increase cognitive load. This study investigates the impact of interconnections in concept maps on cognitive load,…

Background: Cognitive load theory is widely used in educational research and instructional design, which relies heavily on conceptual constructs and measurement instruments of cognitive load. Due to its implicit nature, cognitive load is usually measured by other related instruments, such as commonly-used self-report scales of mental effort or…

This study investigates the effect of survey order in measuring self-reported cognitive load. Understanding how survey order influences responses is crucial, but it has been largely overlooked in the context of cognitive load. Using a 2 × 2 experimental design with 319 high school students, the study manipulated intrinsic cognitive load (ICL)…

Acquiescence is the tendency of participants to shift their responses to agreement. Lechner et al. (2019) introduced the following mechanisms of acquiescence: social deference and cognitive processing. We added their interaction into a theoretical framework. The sample consists of 557 participants. We found significant medium strong relationship…

Although it is commonly believed that automation aids human decision-making, conflicting evidence raises questions about whether individuals would gain greater advantages from automation in difficult tasks. Our study examines the combined influence of task difficulty and automation reliability on aided decision-making. We assessed decision…

This study explores the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying math avoidance in individuals with high math anxiety (HMA), a pattern contributing to reduced practice and poor performance. Using an approach-avoid conflict paradigm and both general linear mixed model and Hierarchical Drift Diffusion Model (HDDM) regression analyses, we found…

This study investigated the effects of pre-training types on cognitive load, self-efficacy, and problem-solving in computer programming. Pre-training was provided to help learners acquire schemas related to problem-solving strategies. 84 undergraduate students were randomly assigned to one of three groups and each group received three different…