T5-B: Validating the Use of B-Alert Live in Measuring Cognitive Load in Engineering Problem-Solving
Location
Bill France B
Start Date
6-3-2018 10:20 AM
Description
Evaluation of cognitive functioning via physiological measures is a growing area of research in Engineering Education due to its potential implications for enhancing student performance. This paper focuses on the measurement of cognitive functioning via electroencephalography (EEG) and self-report measures, and their relationship with performance. Researchers evaluated the B-Alert X10 EEG system’s reliability in measuring cognitive load, and thus indirectly evaluated its potential to measure both cognitive flexibility and cognitive efficiency in future research. Sophomore and senior undergraduate engineering students solved five engineering problems of increasing complexity while connected to the EEG. As a secondary measure, participants also completed the NASA Task Load Index, a multidimensional self-report assessment tool. The average cognitive load experienced by all participants increased as they attempted to solve problems of increasing difficulty, and sophomores experienced greater cognitive load than seniors. These findings further support electroencephalography as a valid measure of cognitive load.
T5-B: Validating the Use of B-Alert Live in Measuring Cognitive Load in Engineering Problem-Solving
Bill France B
Evaluation of cognitive functioning via physiological measures is a growing area of research in Engineering Education due to its potential implications for enhancing student performance. This paper focuses on the measurement of cognitive functioning via electroencephalography (EEG) and self-report measures, and their relationship with performance. Researchers evaluated the B-Alert X10 EEG system’s reliability in measuring cognitive load, and thus indirectly evaluated its potential to measure both cognitive flexibility and cognitive efficiency in future research. Sophomore and senior undergraduate engineering students solved five engineering problems of increasing complexity while connected to the EEG. As a secondary measure, participants also completed the NASA Task Load Index, a multidimensional self-report assessment tool. The average cognitive load experienced by all participants increased as they attempted to solve problems of increasing difficulty, and sophomores experienced greater cognitive load than seniors. These findings further support electroencephalography as a valid measure of cognitive load.