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Article published In:
Translation, Cognition & Behavior
Vol. 6:1 (2023) ► pp.3–28

Cognitive load and cognitive effort

Probing the psychological reality of a conceptual difference

ORCID logo | Zurich University of Applied Sciences
ORCID logo | Zurich University of Applied Sciences

The cognitive demands associated with performing a task involve at least two dimensions: (1) the load dimension that is related to the assumed task difficulty and (2) the effort dimension that reflects the resources invested in a task. This study considers whether this distinction is actually relevant to translators and interpreters when they report load and effort and, if so, how the assumed psychological reality of these two dimensions is related to task performance. In this study, professional translators and interpreters performed naturalistic tasks with comparable stimuli, working from English into German. After each task, they were asked to rate their experienced load and effort as part of the NASA Task Load Index. Their performance was measured by analysing process and product indicators that correspond in interpreting and translation. Results indicate that while self-reported load and effort are highly correlated, their relationships to process or product measures appear to be more complex.

Keywords: cognitive load, cognitive effort, translation professionals, interpreting professionals, task performance, NASA Task Load Index
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1Cognitive Load and Cognitive Effort
    • 1.2The Relationship between Load and Effort in Self-Report Measures
    • 1.3The Relationship between Load or Effort and Performance Measures
  • 2.Study
    • 2.1Participants
    • 2.2Stimuli
    • 2.3Procedure
    • 2.4Data Processing and Analysis
  • 3.Results
    • 3.1Relationship between Self-Reported Load and Effort
    • 3.2Relationship between Load, Effort and Product Measures in Interpreting
    • 3.3Relationship between Load, Effort and Process Measures in Interpreting
    • 3.4Relationship between Load, Effort and Product Measures in Translation
    • 3.5Relationship between load, effort and process measures in translation
  • 4.Disentangling Effort and Load
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 14 March 2023
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/tcb.00073.gie
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