The Scientific Value of Cognitive Load Theory: A Research Agenda Based on the Structuralist View of Theories
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Cognitive load theory is hard or even impossible to falsify.
“An important point to note is that cognitive load theory is constructed in such a way that it is hard or even impossible to falsify (see also, Gerjets et al. 2009a).”
From Cognitive load theory, educational research, and instructional design: some food for thought (2010) · cites this paper as Gerjets et al. 2009a
Cites
Cognitive Load During Problem Solving: Effects on Learning
Sweller, J. (1988) · Cognitive Science · doi:10.1016/0364-0213(88)90023-7 · Cited by 11,048 · see citing works
Cognitive Load Theory and the Format of Instruction
Chandler, P., & Sweller, J. (1991) · Cognition and Instruction · doi:10.1207/s1532690xci0804_2 · Cited by 2,894 · see citing works
Paas, F. G. W. C. (1992) · Journal of Educational Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-0663.84.4.429 · Cited by 2,150 · see citing works
Baddeley, A. D. (1999) · doi:10.4324/9780203345160 · Cited by 816 · see citing works
THE SPLIT‐ATTENTION EFFECT AS A FACTOR IN THE DESIGN OF INSTRUCTION
CHANDLER, P., & SWELLER, J. (1992) · British Journal of Educational Psychology · doi:10.1111/j.2044-8279.1992.tb01017.x · Cited by 767 · see citing works
Cierniak, G., Scheiter, K., & Gerjets, P. (2009) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2008.12.020 · Cited by 412 · see citing works
Self-citationGerjets, P., & Scheiter, K. (2003) · Educational Psychologist · doi:10.1207/s15326985ep3801_5 · Cited by 176 · see citing works
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Cognitive load theory, educational research, and instructional design: some food for thought
de Jong, T. (2010) · Instructional Science · doi:10.1007/s11251-009-9110-0 · Cited by 1,180 · see citing works
Cierniak, G., Scheiter, K., & Gerjets, P. (2009) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2008.12.020 · Cited by 412 · see citing works
Self-citationCognitive Load as Motivational Cost
Feldon, D. F., Callan, G., Juth, S., & Jeong, S. (2019) · Educational Psychology Review · doi:10.1007/s10648-019-09464-6 · Cited by 218 · see citing works
What does germane load mean? An empirical contribution to the cognitive load theory
Debue, N., & van de Leemput, C. (2014) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01099 · Cited by 209 · see citing works
Cognitive Load Theory in Computing Education Research: A Review
Duran, R., Zavgorodniaia, A., & Sorva, J. (2022) · ACM Transactions on Computing Education · doi:10.1145/3483843 · Cited by 92 · see citing works
- Authors
- Gerjets, P., Scheiter, K., & Cierniak, G.
- Affiliations
- University of Tübingen (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Gerjets, Peter
- Venue
- Educational Psychology Review
- Published
- 2008-11-12
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 43-54
- ISSN
- 1040-726X (ISSN-L)
- 1573-336X
- OpenAlex
- W2001517130
- Cited by
- 130
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 4.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Educational Psychology Review (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Visual and Cognitive Learning Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Innovative Teaching and Learning Methods
- Social Sciences › Education › Educational theories and practices
- Keywords
- cognitive load theory, critical rationalism, Karl Popper, falsifiability, fundamental assumptions, research agenda, methodological assumptions, circularity
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