IMPROVING LEARNING DESIGN AND EDUCATION OUTCOMES THROUGH COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY: THE EFFECTS OF CONTROL OPPORTUNITIES ON INFORMATION PROCESSING AND MENTAL FATIGUE
Abstract
Persistent mental fatigue induced by sustained task performance and mental workload has been shown to have serious cognitive effects such as lowered discrimination capacity, circumscribed range of attention, and increased distractibility, all reducing the ability to absorb information and leading to impaired learning. Studies show that having greater autonomy in choosing how to complete given cognitive tasks is associated with lower levels of strain and better educational outcomes. The present study investigated the effects of control opportunities over a series of information processing tasks on mental fatigue and learning. Adapting a yoked - subject experimental design, it was assumed that provision of varying degrees of personal control over the method and timing on a series of information processing tasks would determine the degree of participants’ mental fatigue. The overall pattern of results was consistent with our expectations as indicated by subjective measures of affective state prior to and after the information processing tasks. Enhanced opportunities for personal control over the timing and methods of action were associated with lower levels of mental fatigue. The results have significant implications for educational purposes. In terms of learning design, it is vital to reduce the time spent on exerting high effort. One way of doing this is by the provision of opportunities for performing information processing tasks in different ways and with different pace. This will enhance personal control over a given cognitive activity and result in low levels of fatigue, since more effort can be applied in parts of the task that are more interesting (tasks can be carried out in a preferable order and pace), while more boring parts can be dealt with by the application of less effort. A general conclusion can be drawn from the findings: Given mental tasks or activities that impose greater limitations on personal control are associated with less favourable results.
Keywords
Learning Design Education Cognitive Psychology Information Processing Mental Fatigue Personal Control
References
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- de Jong M, Bonvanie AM, Jolij J, Lorist MM (2020). Dynamics in typewriting performance reflect mental fatigue during real-life office work. PLoS ONE 15(10): e0239984.
- Earle, F., Hockey, B., Earle, K. et al. (2015). Separating the effects of task load and task motivation on the effort-fatigue relationship. Motiv Emot 39, 467-476.
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- Glass, D.C., Singer, J.E., and Reim, B. (1971). Behavioural consequences of adaptation to controllable and uncontrollable noise. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 7, 244-257.
- Healy, A. F., Kole, J. A., Buck-Gengler, C. J., & Bourne, L. E. (2004). Effects of prolonged work on data entry speed and accuracy. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 10, 188-199.
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- Hockey, G.R.J., Payne, R.L., and Rick, J.T. (1996). Intra-individual patterns of Hormonal and affective adaptation to work demands: An n = 2 study of junior doctors. Biological Psychology, 42, 393-411.
- Jimmieson, N. L. (2000). Employee reactions to behavioural control under conditions of stress: The moderating role of self-efficacy. Work and Stress, 14, 262–280.
- Kubicek B., Paškvan M., Bunner J. (2017). The Bright and Dark Sides of Job Autonomy. In: Korunka C., Kubicek B. (eds) Job Demands in a Changing World of Work. Springer, Cham.
- Kurzban, R., Duckworth, A., Kable, J. W., & Myers, J. (2013). An opportunity cost model of subjective effort and task performance. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 36, 661-726.
- Offner, M. (1911). Mental Fatigue. Baltimore: Warwick and York.
- Schaubroeck, J., Jones, J. R., & Xie, J. L. (2001). Individual differences in utilizing control to cope with job demands: Effects on susceptibility to infectious disease. Journal of Applied Psychology, 86, 265-278.
- van der Linden, D., Frese, M., & Meijman, T. F. (2003). Mental fatigue and the control of cognitive processes: Effects on perseveration and planning. Acta Psychologica, 113, 46-65.
- van Mierlo, H., Rutte, C. G., Seinen, B., & Kompier, M. (2001). Autonomous teamwork and psychological well-being. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 10, 291-301.
Abstract
References
- Brown, I.D. (1994). Driver fatigue. Human Factors, 36(2)1298-314.
- de Jong M, Bonvanie AM, Jolij J, Lorist MM (2020). Dynamics in typewriting performance reflect mental fatigue during real-life office work. PLoS ONE 15(10): e0239984.
- Earle, F., Hockey, B., Earle, K. et al. (2015). Separating the effects of task load and task motivation on the effort-fatigue relationship. Motiv Emot 39, 467-476.
- Frese, M. (1987). A theory of control and complexity: Implications of software design and integration of computer systems into the workplace. In Frese, M., Ullich,8., Dzida, W. (eds.). Psychological issues of human-computer interaction in the workplace. Amsterdam: North-Holland.
- Glass, D.C., Singer, J.E., and Reim, B. (1971). Behavioural consequences of adaptation to controllable and uncontrollable noise. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 7, 244-257.
- Healy, A. F., Kole, J. A., Buck-Gengler, C. J., & Bourne, L. E. (2004). Effects of prolonged work on data entry speed and accuracy. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 10, 188-199.
- Hockey GR, Earle F. (2006). Control over the scheduling of simulated office work reduces the impact of workload on mental fatigue and task performance. J Exp Psychol Appl.12(1):50-65.
- Hockey, G.R.J., Payne, R.L., and Rick, J.T. (1996). Intra-individual patterns of Hormonal and affective adaptation to work demands: An n = 2 study of junior doctors. Biological Psychology, 42, 393-411.
- Jimmieson, N. L. (2000). Employee reactions to behavioural control under conditions of stress: The moderating role of self-efficacy. Work and Stress, 14, 262–280.
- Kubicek B., Paškvan M., Bunner J. (2017). The Bright and Dark Sides of Job Autonomy. In: Korunka C., Kubicek B. (eds) Job Demands in a Changing World of Work. Springer, Cham.
- Kurzban, R., Duckworth, A., Kable, J. W., & Myers, J. (2013). An opportunity cost model of subjective effort and task performance. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 36, 661-726.
- Offner, M. (1911). Mental Fatigue. Baltimore: Warwick and York.
- Schaubroeck, J., Jones, J. R., & Xie, J. L. (2001). Individual differences in utilizing control to cope with job demands: Effects on susceptibility to infectious disease. Journal of Applied Psychology, 86, 265-278.
- van der Linden, D., Frese, M., & Meijman, T. F. (2003). Mental fatigue and the control of cognitive processes: Effects on perseveration and planning. Acta Psychologica, 113, 46-65.
- van Mierlo, H., Rutte, C. G., Seinen, B., & Kompier, M. (2001). Autonomous teamwork and psychological well-being. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 10, 291-301.
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal Section | Articles |
| Authors | |
| Publication Date | May 7, 2022 |
| Submission Date | February 9, 2022 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2022Volume: 8 Issue: 22 |
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