Students invest more mental effort in paper-based questions than in equivalent computer-based questions¶
Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · causalr2·q3
Currency · newest study 2023 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person
Subclaims¶
Reading the evidence codes
q is the design tier, i the impact, n the sample, and the kind with its r
the rigour judged within that kind: what each code means.
This claim: no standardized effect is recorded in observations/ for it yet, so no benchmark reading is possible.
q3 i? Mental effort ratings were higher for paper questions (M = 4.08) than computer questions (M = 3.71), significant for both easy and difficult questions. → James Pengelley · Peter R. Whipp · Nina Rovis-Hermann 2023
Evidence¶
James Pengelley · Peter R. Whipp · Nina Rovis-Hermann 2023¶
James Pengelley · Peter R. Whipp · Nina Rovis-Hermann. (2023). A Testing Load: Investigating Test Mode Effects on Test Score, Cognitive Load and Scratch Paper Use with Secondary School Students. Educational Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-023-09781-x
q3 · i? · causal · r2
The mental-effort hierarchical linear model showed "Students invested more effort in paper questions (M = 4.08, 95% CI = 3.19, 4.96) compared to computer questions (M = 3.71, 95% = 2.83, 4.59)"; post-hoc comparisons were significant for easy (p < 0.001) and difficult (p = 0.039) questions, with a nonsignificant interaction (p = 0.08).
"Students invested more effort in paper questions (M = 4.08, 95% CI = 3.19, 4.96) compared to computer questions (M = 3.71, 95% = 2.83, 4.59)"
Discussion¶
Related Claims¶
- Students perform better on easy computer-based questions than on easy paper-based questions — related
- Students rate paper-based questions as more difficult than equivalent computer-based questions — related
- Secondary students score higher on difficult paper-based questions than on equivalent difficult computer-based questions — related
- Invested mental effort and perceived task difficulty are strongly correlated yet relate differently to relative task difficulty, indicating the two ratings measure different aspects of overall cognitive load — related
- Testing mode and question difficulty interact on test scores, with paper advantaged as difficulty increases — related
- Students use scratch paper more in paper-based tests, and scratch paper use during computer-based tests decreases as question difficulty increases — related
Page metadata
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
type |
claim |
id |
greater-mental-effort-paper-questions |
title |
Students invest more mental effort in paper-based questions than in equivalent computer-based questions |
description |
Students invest more mental effort in paper-based questions than in equivalent computer-based questions |
status |
review |
evidence_strength |
moderate |
newest_evidence |
2023 |
generated |
by process:wiki-ingest on 2026-10-22 |
trust |
unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content |
sources |
1 — james-pengelley-peter-r-whipp-nina-rovis-hermann-2023 |
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