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Exploring the Relationship Between Second Language Task Complexity and Learners' Perceived Cognitive Load

by Wei Tan 1,*
1
Lanzhou Bowen College of Science and Technology, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
JASES  2025 7(3):249; https://doi.org/10.69610/j.pssa.0630
Received: / Accepted: / Published Online: 30 June 2025

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between second language (L2) task complexity and learners' perceived cognitive load within the theoretical frameworks of Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) and Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT). Utilizing multidimensional scales, the research measures learners' cognitive load perceptions across tasks of varying complexity levels. Data were collected through a combination of questionnaire surveys and experimental tasks, followed by structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze the pathways through which task complexity factors (e.g., information quantity, cognitive demands, time pressure) influence learners' cognitive load. The results demonstrate that increased task complexity significantly elevates learners' intrinsic cognitive load while potentially reducing extraneous cognitive load and optimizing germane cognitive load. Furthermore, individual learner differences (e.g., working memory capacity, L2 proficiency) were found to serve as moderating factors in the relationship between task complexity and cognitive load.


Copyright: © 2025 by Tan. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) (Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

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ACS Style
Tan, W. Exploring the Relationship Between Second Language Task Complexity and Learners' Perceived Cognitive Load. Journal of Arts, Society, and Education Studies, 2025, 7, 249. doi:10.69610/j.pssa.0630
AMA Style
Tan W.. Exploring the Relationship Between Second Language Task Complexity and Learners' Perceived Cognitive Load. Journal of Arts, Society, and Education Studies; 2025, 7(3):249. doi:10.69610/j.pssa.0630
Chicago/Turabian Style
Tan, Wei 2025. "Exploring the Relationship Between Second Language Task Complexity and Learners' Perceived Cognitive Load" Journal of Arts, Society, and Education Studies 7, no.3:249. doi:10.69610/j.pssa.0630

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