Constantly high task complexity improves delayed posttest performance compared with gradually increasing complexity¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · causal r? · q3 · i2 medium
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i2 Higher complexity led to less time and fewer trials needed in the posttest two days after learning. → Ines Zeitlhofer 2026

Evidence¶

Ines Zeitlhofer 2026¶

Ines Zeitlhofer, Joerg Zumbach. (2026). Germane processes moderate the effectiveness of complex desirable difficulty tasks. Instructional Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11251-026-09807-1

q3 · i2 · causal · r?

In the 2×2 factorial experiment (132 participants, Italian conjugation task, posttest two days later), the MANOVA on posttest time and trials showed a moderate complexity effect (η² = 0.09), with "higher complexity leads to less time needed" and fewer trials.

"A MANOV A with complexity and desirable difficulty as independent variables and time and trials (posttest) as dependent variables revealed a moderate main effect of complexity (F (2, 127) = 6.55, p = .002; η² = 0.09; Hypothesis 1.1)"

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• The interaction of complexity and desirable difficulty does not significantly affect posttest performance — related
• Constantly high complexity lowers reported intrinsic cognitive load and metacognitive strategy use compared with gradually increasing complexity — related