Dual-task (secondary-task) measures offer concurrent cognitive load assessment but are rarely used¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · review r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2010 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person · overdue for a recheck since 2013: tool and model accuracy changes quickly

Subclaims¶

q2 i? The dual-task approach provides a concurrent measure of cognitive load as it occurs, with slower or less accurate secondary-task performance indicating more resource consumption, yet it is used relatively rarely. → de Jong 2010

Evidence¶

de Jong 2010¶

de Jong, T. (2010). Cognitive load theory, educational research, and instructional design: some food for thought. Instructional Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11251-009-9110-0

q2 · i? · review · r2

The review describes the secondary-task approach (e.g., reaction to color changes or letter encoding) borrowed from car-driving research, noting Brünken et al. (2003) "have empirically shown the suitability of the dual task approach" while usage remains rare. No effect size printed.

"A dual task approach has an advantage over, for example, a questionnaire, in that it is a concurrent measure of cognitive load as it occurs."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• There is no convincing evidence that loading WM depletes a resource needed for the control of attention — related
• Older adults show a small but disproportionate age-related cost of concurrent processing on storage accuracy in working memory dual tasks — related
• Auditory reaction-time measure of cognitive load did not differ between guided and unguided low-vision navigation in older adults — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• A shared attentional resource for storage and processing is the best supported resource theory of WM capacity but faces empirical challenges — related