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Thrive or overload? The effect of task complexity on novices' simulation-based learning.

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Title: Thrive or overload? The effect of task complexity on novices' simulation-based learning.
Authors: Haji, Faizal A, Cheung, Jeffrey J H, Woods, Nicole, Regehr, Glenn, Ribaupierre, Sandrine, Dubrowski, Adam
Source: Medical Education. Sep2016, Vol. 50 Issue 9, p955-968. 14p.
Subjects: Ability, Analysis of variance, Cognition, Computer simulation, Statistical correlation, Education research, Fisher exact test, Human anatomical models, Learning, Longitudinal method, Case studies, Medical schools, Medical students, Study & teaching of medicine, Memory, Health outcome assessment, Probability theory, Questionnaires, Reaction time, Research evaluation, Research funding, Statistical sampling, Scale analysis (Psychology), School environment, Lumbar puncture, Rating of students, T-test (Statistics), Transfer of training, Training, Statistical power analysis, Task performance, Effect sizes (Statistics), Inter-observer reliability, Data analysis software, Descriptive statistics, Intraclass correlation
Geographic Terms: Ontario
Abstract: Context Fidelity is widely viewed as an important element of simulation instructional design based on its purported relationship with transfer of learning. However, higher levels of fidelity may increase task complexity to a point at which novices' cognitive resources become overloaded. Objectives In this experiment, we investigate the effects of variations in task complexity on novices' cognitive load and learning during simulation-based procedural skills training. Methods Thirty-eight medical students were randomly assigned to simulation training on a simple or complex lumbar puncture ( LP) task. Participants completed four practice trials on this task (skill acquisition). After 10 days of rest, all participants completed one additional trial on their assigned task (retention) and one trial on a 'very complex' simulation designed to be similar to the complex task (transfer). We assessed LP performance and cognitive load on each trial using multiple measures. Results In both groups, LP performance improved significantly during skill acquisition (p ≤ 0.047, f = 0.29-0.96) and was maintained at retention. The simple task group demonstrated superior performance compared with the complex task group throughout these phases (p ≤ 0.002, d = 1.13-2.31). Cognitive load declined significantly in the simple task group (p < 0.009, f = 0.48-0.76), but not in the complex task group during skill acquisition, and remained lower at retention (p ≤ 0.024, d = 0.78-1.39). Between retention and transfer, LP performance declined and cognitive load increased in the simple task group, whereas both remained stable in the complex task group. At transfer, no group differences were observed in LP performance and cognitive load, except that the simple task group made significantly fewer breaches of sterility (p = 0.023, d = 0.80). Conclusions Reduced task complexity was associated with superior LP performance and lower cognitive load during skill acquisition and retention, but mixed results on transfer to a more complex task. These results indicate that task complexity is an important factor that may mediate (via cognitive overload) the relationship between instructional design elements (e.g. fidelity) and simulation-based learning outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Medical Education is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Context Fidelity is widely viewed as an important element of simulation instructional design based on its purported relationship with transfer of learning. However, higher levels of fidelity may increase task complexity to a point at which novices&#39; cognitive resources become overloaded. Objectives In this experiment, we investigate the effects of variations in task complexity on novices&#39; cognitive load and learning during simulation-based procedural skills training. Methods Thirty-eight medical students were randomly assigned to simulation training on a simple or complex lumbar puncture ( LP) task. Participants completed four practice trials on this task (skill acquisition). After 10 days of rest, all participants completed one additional trial on their assigned task (retention) and one trial on a &#39;very complex&#39; simulation designed to be similar to the complex task (transfer). We assessed LP performance and cognitive load on each trial using multiple measures. Results In both groups, LP performance improved significantly during skill acquisition (p ≤ 0.047, f = 0.29-0.96) and was maintained at retention. The simple task group demonstrated superior performance compared with the complex task group throughout these phases (p ≤ 0.002, d = 1.13-2.31). Cognitive load declined significantly in the simple task group (p &lt; 0.009, f = 0.48-0.76), but not in the complex task group during skill acquisition, and remained lower at retention (p ≤ 0.024, d = 0.78-1.39). Between retention and transfer, LP performance declined and cognitive load increased in the simple task group, whereas both remained stable in the complex task group. At transfer, no group differences were observed in LP performance and cognitive load, except that the simple task group made significantly fewer breaches of sterility (p = 0.023, d = 0.80). Conclusions Reduced task complexity was associated with superior LP performance and lower cognitive load during skill acquisition and retention, but mixed results on transfer to a more complex task. These results indicate that task complexity is an important factor that may mediate (via cognitive overload) the relationship between instructional design elements (e.g. fidelity) and simulation-based learning outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: &lt;i&gt;Copyright of Medical Education is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder&#39;s express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.&lt;/i&gt; (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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      – SubjectFull: Analysis of variance
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      – SubjectFull: Cognition
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      – SubjectFull: Medical schools
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      – SubjectFull: Lumbar puncture
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              Text: Sep2016
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