Delayed cognitive load ratings appear to be based more on the more complex problems in the series than on a recency effect¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · causal r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2015 · checked against its sources 2026-10-20 (automated, 1 of 1 entry) · not reviewed by a person · overdue for a recheck since 2018: tool and model accuracy changes quickly

Subclaims¶

q2 i? In regressions on averaged ratings, delayed effort and difficulty ratings were significantly predicted by the average of the three more complex problems, not the three easier ones, in the increasing-complexity group; in the reversed-order group the three easier (last-seen) problems also predicted delayed mental effort, so the authors read the evidence as largely, not wholly, favouring complexity over recency. → Schmeck 2015

Evidence¶

Schmeck 2015¶

Schmeck, A., Opfermann, M., van Gog, T., Paas, F., & Leutner, D. (2015). Measuring cognitive load with subjective rating scales during problem solving: differences between immediate and delayed ratings. Instructional Science, 43, 93–114. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11251-014-9328-3

q2 · i? · causal · r2

In Experiment 2, after stepwise regressions on the individual immediate ratings, regression analyses on the averaged ratings for Group 1 (increasing complexity, n = 56) showed the "average of the last three problems" predicted delayed effort (r2 = 0.164) and difficulty (r2 = 0.398), while the easier first three did not. In Group 2 (reversed order), the average of the three complex problems predicted both delayed ratings (r2 = 0.340 and 0.348), but the average of the three easier, last-seen problems also predicted delayed mental effort (t(50) = 2.16, p = 0.036, r2 = 0.219). The authors conclude the results "largely seem to confirm" that delayed ratings rest more on the complex problems than on recency, not that recency is ruled out.

"the delayed ratings for mental effort and perceived difficulty were significantly predicted by the average of the last three problems (t(55) = 3.25, p = 0.002, r2 = 0.164 for mental effort and t(55) = 5.97, p\ 0.001, r2 = 0.398 for perceived difficulty), which we assume to be the more complex ones."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Delayed ratings of affective variables (interest and motivation) do not differ from the average of immediate ratings, unlike cognitive load ratings — related
• A single delayed cognitive load rating after a problem sequence is significantly higher than the average of immediate ratings for both mental effort and perceived difficulty (Experiment 1) — related
• The delayed-higher-than-immediate difference for cognitive load ratings replicates regardless of whether problem complexity increases or decreases across the sequence (Experiment 2) — related
• The predictive value of cognitive load ratings for problem performance was mixed: mental effort predicted performance in Experiment 1, perceived difficulty in Experiment 2, but never both at once — related
• Delayed cognitive load assessments after learning exceed the average of during-learning assessments only when complexity decreases across the learning material — related
• The first impression of complexity best predicts the overall post-learning cognitive load assessment, indicating a primacy effect in learning contexts — related
• Delayed effort ratings are higher than the average of immediate ratings, suggesting itemized appraisals are more sensitive to effort fluctuations — related