Article
A test of the cognitive load hypothesis: Investigating the impact of number of nonverbal cues coded and length of coding session on observer accuracy
Communication Reports
(2007)
Abstract
In their meta-analysis investigating the relationship between extraversion and nonverbal behavior La France, Heisel, and Beatty (2004) found a substantial negative correlation between effect size and sample size, which they explained using the cognitive load hypothesis. The cognitive load hypothesis predicts that increases in coding scheme complexity result in greater opportunities for observer error. To test this hypothesis, the impact of coding scheme complexity on observer error was assessed via varying the number of nonverbal cues coded and the length of observational coding session. The decision to increase the number of nonverbal cues observers coded created 26% more errors, and over time observers made 10% more errors.
Keywords
- Coding Scheme,
- Cognitive Load,
- Meta-analysis,
- Nonverbal Communication
Disciplines
Publication Date
April 18, 2007
DOI
10.1080/08934210601180739
Citation Information
Alan D. Heisel and Michael J. Beatty. "A test of the cognitive load hypothesis: Investigating the impact of number of nonverbal cues coded and length of coding session on observer accuracy" Communication Reports Vol. 20 Iss. 1 (2007) p. 11 - 23 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/alan-heisel/7/