A Test of the Cognitive Load Hypothesis: Investigating the Impact of Number of Nonverbal Cues Coded and Length of Coding Session on Observer Accuracy

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 hypothes...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inCommunication Reports Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 11 - 23
Main Authors La France, Betty H., Heisel, Alan D., Beatty, Michael J.
Format Journal Article Trade Publication Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Salt Lake City Taylor & Francis Group 01.01.2007
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects
Accuracy
Codes
Coding Scheme
Cognitive Load
Correlation analysis
Errors
Hypotheses
Meta-analysis
Nonverbal Communication
Systematic review
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary: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.
ISSN:0893-4215
1745-1043
DOI:10.1080/08934210601180739