Cognitive load

In cognitive psychology, cognitive load is the load related to the executive control of working memory (WM). Theories contend that during complex learning activities the amount of information and interactions that must be processed simultaneously can either under-load, or overload the finite amount of working memory one possesses. All elements must be processed before meaningful learning can continue.^[1]

Instruction may be aimed at teaching learners problem solving skills, thinking and reasoning skills (including perception, memory, language, etc.).^[2] Many would agree that people learn better when they can build on what they already understand (known as existing schemas), but the more a person has to learn in a shorter amount of time, the more difficult it is to process that information in working memory. Consider the difference between having to study a subject in one's native language versus trying to study a subject in a foreign language. The cognitive load is much higher in the second instance because the brain must work to translate the language while simultaneously trying to understand the new information.

Another aspect of cognitive load theory involves understanding how many discrete units of information can be retained in short-term memory before information loss occurs. An example of this principle that seems to be commonly cited is the use of 7-digit phone numbers, based on the theory that most people can only retain seven "chunks" of information in their short-term memory.

Cognitive load theory

"Cognitive load theory has been designed to provide guidelines intended to assist in the presentation of information in a manner that encourages learner activities that optimize intellectual performance".^[3] John Sweller's theory employs aspects of information processing theory to emphasize the inherent limitations of concurrent working memory load on learning during instruction. It makes use of schemas as the unit of analysis for the design of instructional materials.

The history of cognitive load theory

The history of cognitive load theory can be traced back to the beginning of Cognitive Science and the work of G.A. Miller. Miller was perhaps the first to suggest our working memory capacity was limited in his classic paper.^[4] His experimental results suggested that humans are only able to hold seven plus or minus two digits of information in their short-term memory. Simon and Chase^[5] used the term "chunk" to describe how people might organize information in their short-term memory, this chunking of memory components has also been described as schema construction.

John Sweller developed cognitive load theory (CLT) while studying problem solving.^[2] While studying learners as they solved problems, he and his associates found that learners often use a problem solving strategy called means-ends analysis. He suggests problem solving by means-ends analysis requires a relatively large amount of cognitive processing capacity, which may not be devoted to schema construction. Instead of problem solving, Sweller suggests Instructional designers should limit cognitive load by designing instructional materials like worked-examples, or goal-free problems.

In the 1990s, cognitive load theory was applied in several contexts and the empirical results from these studies led to the demonstration of several learning effects: the completion-problem effect;^[6] modality effect;^[7][8] split-attention effect;^[9] the worked-example effect^[10][11] and the expertise reversal effect.^[12]

Types

Cognitive load theory has broad implications for instructional design. This theory provides a general framework for instructional designers for it allows them to control the conditions of learning, within an environment, or more generally within most instructional materials. Specifically, it provides empirically-based guidelines that help instructional designers to decrease extraneous cognitive load during learning, and refocus that learner's attention toward germane materials, increasing germane (schema related) cognitive load. This theory differentiates between three types of cognitive load: intrinsic cognitive load, germane cognitive load, and extraneous cognitive load.^[3]

Intrinsic

Intrinsic cognitive load is the inherent level of difficulty associated with a specific instructional topic. The term was first used by Chandler and Sweller.^[13] According to them, all instruction has an inherent difficulty associated with it (e.g., the calculation of 2 + 2, versus solving a differential equation). This inherent difficulty may not be altered by an instructor. However many schemas may be broken into individual "subschemas" and taught in isolation, to be later brought back together and described as a combined whole.^[14]

Extraneous

Extraneous cognitive load is generated by the manner in which information is presented to learners and is under the control of instructional designers.^[13] This load can be attributed to the design of the instructional materials. Because there is a single, limited cognitive resource, using resources to process the extraneous load reduces the amount of resources available to process the intrinsic load and germane load (i.e., learning). Thus, especially when intrinsic and/or germane load is high (i.e., when a problem is difficult), materials should be designed so as to reduce the extraneous load.^[15]

An example of extraneous cognitive load occurs when there are two possible ways to describe a square to a student.^[14] A square is a figure and should be described using a figural medium. Certainly an instructor can describe a square in a verbal medium, but it takes just a second and far less effort to see what the instructor is talking about when a learner is shown a square, rather than having one described verbally. In this instance, the efficiency of the visual medium is preferred. This is because it does not unduly load the learner with unnecessary information. This unnecessary cognitive load is described as extraneous.

Chandler and Sweller introduced the concept of extraneous cognitive load. This article was written to report the results of six experiments that they conducted to investigate this working memory load. Many of these experiments involved materials demonstrating the split attention effect. They found that the format of instructional materials either promoted or limited learning. They proposed that differences in performance were due to higher levels of the cognitive load imposed by the format of instruction. "Extraneous cognitive load" is a term for this unnecessary (artificially induced) cognitive load.

Germane

Germane cognitive load is that load devoted to the processing, construction and automation of schemas. It was first described by Sweller, Van Merriënboer and Paas in 1998. While intrinsic cognitive load is generally thought to be immutable (although techniques can be applied to manage complexity by segmenting and sequencing complex material), instructional designers can manipulate extraneous and germane load. It is suggested that they limit extraneous load and promote germane load.^[3]

Until the 1998 article by Sweller, Van Merriënboer & Paas, cognitive load theory primarily concentrated on the reduction of extraneous cognitive load. With this article, cognitive load researchers began to seek ways of redesigning instruction to redirect what would be extraneous load, to now be focused toward schema construction (germane load). Thus it is very important for instructional designers to "reduce extraneous cognitive load and redirect learners' attention to cognitive processes that are directly relevant to the construction of schemas".^[16]

Measurement

Paas and Van Merriënboer^[17] developed a construct (known as relative condition efficiency) which helps researchers measure perceived mental effort, an index of cognitive load. This construct provides a relatively simple means of comparing instructional conditions. It combines mental effort ratings with performance scores. Group mean z-scores are graphed and may be compared with a one-way Analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Paas and Van Merriënboer used relative condition efficiency to compare three instructional conditions (worked examples, completion problems, and discovery practice). They found learners who studied worked examples were the most efficient, followed by those who used the problem completion strategy. Since this early study many other researchers have used this and other constructs to measure cognitive load as it relates to learning and instruction.^[18]

The ergonomic approach seeks a quantitative neurophysiological expression of cognitive load which can be measured using common instruments, for example using the heart rate-blood pressure product (RPP) as a measure of both cognitive and physical occupational workload.^[19] They believe that it may be possible to use RPP measures to set limits on workloads and for establishing work allowance. Buettner proposed a method to measure the cognitive workload based on capturing eye movements and pupillary responses via eye-tracking technology.^[20]

Some researchers have compared different measures of cognitive load. For example, Deleeuw and Mayer (2008) ^[21] compared three commonly used measures of cognitive load and found that they responded differently to extraneous, intrinsic, and germane load.

Individual differences in processing capacity

Evidence has been found that individuals systematically differ in their processing capacity.^[22][23] A series of experiments support the assumption that each individual has a fixed capacity for processing information, irrespective of the task in question, or more accurately, irrespective of the processes an individual uses in solving any given task. Tasks ranged from remembering simple lists, lists supplemented with a fixed constant and simple arithmetic.

Identifying the processing capacity of individuals could be extremely useful in further adapting instruction (or predicting the behavior) of individuals. Accordingly, further research would clearly be desirable. First, it is essential to compute the memory load imposed by detailed analysis of the processes to be used. Second, it is essential to ensure that individual subjects are actually using those processes. The latter requires intensive pre-training.

Effects of heavy cognitive load

Some are

• Error
• Fundamental Attribution Error

The notions of cognitive load and arousal contribute to the "Overload Hypothesis" explanation of social facilitation: in the presence of an audience, subjects tend to perform worse in subjectively complex tasks (whereas they tend to excel in subjectively easy tasks). See also: audience effect and drive theory.

See also

• Workplace stress
• Task-invoked pupillary response
• Task loading (in scuba diving)
• Information overload

References

Journal Special Issues

For those wishing to learn more about cognitive load theory, please consider reading these journals and special issues of those journals:

• Educational Psychologist, vol. 43 (2008) ISSN 0046-1520
• Applied Cognitive Psychology vol. 20(3) (2006)
• Applied Cognitive Psychology vol. 21(6) (2007)
• ETR&D vol. 53 (2005)
• Instructional Science vol. 32(1) (2004)
• Educational Psychologist vol. 38(1) (2003)
• Learning and Instruction vol. 12 (2002)
• Computers in Human Behavior vol. 25 (2) (2009)

For ergonomics standards see:

• ISO 10075-1:1991 Ergonomic Principles Related to Mental Workload – Part 1: General Terms and Definitions
• ISO 10075-2:1996 Ergonomic Principles Related To Mental Workload – Part 2: Design Principles
• ISO 10075-3:2004 Ergonomic Principles Related To Mental Workload – Part 3: Principles And Requirements Concerning Methods For Measuring And Assessing Mental Workload
• ISO 9241 Ergonomics of Human System Interaction

Further reading

• Barrett, H. C.; Frederick, D.; Haselton, M.; Kurzban, R. (2006). "Can manipulations of cognitive load be used to test evolutionary hypotheses?". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 91 (3): 513–518. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.91.3.513. PMID 16938033. 
• Cooper, G. (1990). "Cognitive load theory as an aid for instructional design". Australian Journal of Educational Technology 6 (2): 108–113. 
• Cooper, Graham (1998). "Research into Cognitive Load Theory and Instructional Design at UNSW".
• Plass, J.L., Moreno, R., & Brünken, R., ed. (2010). Cognitive Load Theory. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521677585. 
• UNSW Cognitive Load Theory Conference - Sydney Australia 24-26 March 2007
• Measuring Cognitive Load using Linguistic Features – Implications for Usability Evaluation and Adaptive Interaction Design 21 Nov 2013
• Sweller, J. (1994). "Cognitive Load Theory, learning difficulty, and instructional design". Learning and Instruction 4 (4): 295–312. doi:10.1016/0959-4752(94)90003-5. 
• Sweller, J. (1999). Instructional design in technical areas. Camberwell, Australia: Australian Council for Educational Research. ISBN 0-86431-312-8. 

External links

• Cognitive Load Theory – a brief introduction to Cognitive load theory
• video of John Sweller explaining Extraneous load