Brief Research Report: Psychometric properties of a cognitive load measure when assessing the load associated with a course

Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Miller, Dan J.;Noble, Prisca;Medlen, Sue;Jones, Karina;Munns, Suzanne L.
Abstract

The cognitive load imposed by instruction is an important consideration for instructional designers. Theoretical models have traditionally divided total cognitive load into intrinsic, extrinsic, and germane load. The 10-item Cognitive Load Inventory (CLI-10) is designed to measure these three types of cognitive load. It is typically administered immediately following a discrete learning activity (e.g., a lecture). This study assesses the properties of the CLI-10 when used to measure the “long-term” cognitive load experienced in a course, over a semester. To do this, the instrument was given to a group of students enrolled in a veterinary anatomy course (N = 94), toward the end of a 13-week semester. Students were asked to indicate the cognitive load they experienced across this course. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the instrument’s three-factor structure when used in this way. Further, the instrument’s three subscales performed well in terms of internal reliability and convergent and discriminant validity.

Journal

The Journal of Experimental Education

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Volume

91

ISBN/ISSN

1940-0683

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Issue

2

Pages Count

10

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Publisher

Taylor & Francis

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EISSN

N/A

DOI

10.1080/00220973.2021.1947763