View in EDS

Fully Labeled Scales Are More Cognitively Demanding: A Multimodal Cognitive Load Approach

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Fully Labeled Scales Are More Cognitively Demanding: A Multimodal Cognitive Load Approach
Language: English
Authors: Aigul Klimova (ORCID 0000-0001-7407-2072), Inna Deviatko (ORCID 0000-0002-1955-7592), Daniil Lebedev (ORCID 0000-0001-7246-8022), Tatiana Semenova
Source: Field Methods. 2026 38(1):46-61.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 16
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Cognitive Processes, Difficulty Level, Eye Movements, Physiology, Likert Scales, Research Methodology, Foreign Countries, Laboratory Experiments, Undergraduate Students, Reaction Time
Geographic Terms: Russia (Moscow)
DOI: 10.1177/1525822X251344709
ISSN: 1525-822X
1552-3969
Abstract: This article investigates cognitive load in fully labeled and end-labeled Likert-type scales. We compared cognitive load between two conditions using different methods such as pupillometry, completion times, and subjective evaluation of mental effort. We conducted a laboratory experiment (N = 170) using eye-tracking technology to measure pupil dilation while respondents completed a web survey. The mean pupil diameter was larger in the fully labeled than in the end-labeled condition. Because the fully labeled scales provide more information and require respondents to read labels for all scale values, they increase neurophysiological load compared to the end-labeled scales. Though the effect was small, it was consistent. We found no difference in completion time and subjective rating of mental effort between the conditions. Despite higher cognitive load in the fully labeled condition, data quality benefits from the provision of clear verbal labels in the scale.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1496510
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1496510
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Fully Labeled Scales Are More Cognitively Demanding: A Multimodal Cognitive Load Approach
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Aigul+Klimova%22">Aigul Klimova</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7407-2072">0000-0001-7407-2072</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Inna+Deviatko%22">Inna Deviatko</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1955-7592">0000-0002-1955-7592</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Daniil+Lebedev%22">Daniil Lebedev</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7246-8022">0000-0001-7246-8022</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tatiana+Semenova%22">Tatiana Semenova</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Field+Methods%22"><i>Field Methods</i></searchLink>. 2026 38(1):46-61.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 16
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cognitive+Processes%22">Cognitive Processes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Difficulty+Level%22">Difficulty Level</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Eye+Movements%22">Eye Movements</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Physiology%22">Physiology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Likert+Scales%22">Likert Scales</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+Methodology%22">Research Methodology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Laboratory+Experiments%22">Laboratory Experiments</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Undergraduate+Students%22">Undergraduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reaction+Time%22">Reaction Time</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Russia+%28Moscow%29%22">Russia (Moscow)</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1177/1525822X251344709
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 1525-822X<br />1552-3969
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This article investigates cognitive load in fully labeled and end-labeled Likert-type scales. We compared cognitive load between two conditions using different methods such as pupillometry, completion times, and subjective evaluation of mental effort. We conducted a laboratory experiment (N = 170) using eye-tracking technology to measure pupil dilation while respondents completed a web survey. The mean pupil diameter was larger in the fully labeled than in the end-labeled condition. Because the fully labeled scales provide more information and require respondents to read labels for all scale values, they increase neurophysiological load compared to the end-labeled scales. Though the effect was small, it was consistent. We found no difference in completion time and subjective rating of mental effort between the conditions. Despite higher cognitive load in the fully labeled condition, data quality benefits from the provision of clear verbal labels in the scale.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1496510
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1496510
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/1525822X251344709
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 16
        StartPage: 46
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Cognitive Processes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Difficulty Level
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Eye Movements
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Physiology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Likert Scales
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research Methodology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Laboratory Experiments
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Undergraduate Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Reaction Time
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Russia (Moscow)
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Fully Labeled Scales Are More Cognitively Demanding: A Multimodal Cognitive Load Approach
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Aigul Klimova
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Inna Deviatko
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Daniil Lebedev
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Tatiana Semenova
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 02
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 1525-822X
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1552-3969
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 38
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Field Methods
              Type: main
ResultId 1