Measuring Cognitive Load: Are There More Valid Alternatives to Likert Rating Scales?

Cognitive load researchers have used varying subjective techniques based on rating scales to quantify experienced cognitive load. Although it is generally assumed that subjects can introspect their processes and no difficulty in assigning numerical values the imposed load, little known about how visual characteristics of influence validity measure. In this study we look at four (within groups) differing appearance by participants perceived invested mental effort response working simple complex weekday problems. We two (the nine-point Likert scale most often theory research a Visual Analogue Scale ranging between 0–100%) pictorial (a consisting emoticons from relaxed blue-colored face stressed red-colored an “embodied” picturing nine depicted weights 1–9 kg). Results suggest better reflect underlying problem solving while Underlying solving. This adds discussion challenges through various measurement methods whether subtleties measurements could findings.