Model-based posterior-prediction correlations between the four variables show distinct dynamic patterns across the 21 time points and four intervention groups¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · associational r2 · q3
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? Correlations of model-based posterior predictions reveal distinct dynamic patterns over 21 time points and across four intervention groups, including a divergence in the effort–difficulty relationship between interventions. → Katrin Schuessler 2026

Evidence¶

Katrin Schuessler 2026¶

Katrin Schuessler, Jenna Koenen, Elke Sumfleth, Marvin Rost. (2026). Variations in Repeated Measures of Cognitive Load and Interest During Complex Learning Tasks. Educational Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-025-10105-4

q3 · i? · associational · r2

Posterior predictions (4000 draws) from the best-fitting Bayesian models, correlated over the 21 measurement points per intervention group in the N = 360 sample. The article prints group-specific coefficients (e.g. prompting, segmenting weakening from r = .31 toward r = .03) but no single effect size for the divergence.

"The relationship between invested mental effort and perceived task difficulty reveals a clear divergence between interventions."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Perceived task difficulty correlates negatively with self-assessed understanding and with interest at essentially all measurement points, while interest and self-assessed understanding correlate positively throughout — related
• Invested mental effort and perceived task difficulty are significantly positively correlated at all measurement points except MP2.5, with correlations increasing as material complexity rises — related
• Invested mental effort and interest are only weakly and inconsistently positively correlated across measurement points, with some correlations non-significant — related
• Weekly group data on PBL interactions showed substantial between-group variability (ICC 0.4), requiring multilevel growth models — related
• Prior knowledge and intervention condition predict repeated cognitive load and interest measures: prior knowledge lowers effort and difficulty and raises interest and understanding, and prompting groups perceive tasks as more difficult — related
• Pairwise relationships between invested mental effort, perceived task difficulty, interest, and self-assessed understanding fluctuate across measurement points, with most correlations stronger when more content knowledge is presented — related
• Repeated measures of invested mental effort, perceived task difficulty, interest, and self-assessed understanding differ significantly across measurement points within complex learning tasks and are not adequately represented by their mean — a broader claim this one bears on
• Mental effort is more suitably modeled as a non-linear than linear predictor of learning outcomes in most re-analyzed studies — related
• The model's assumed negative correlation between cognitive load and learner resources was not supported; the overall correlation was positive — related