A researcher wanted to investigate cognitive load and retrieval success in science education. Specifically, they focused on how different presentation formats affect a student's ability to recall complex biological processes.
In Condition A, 18 biology undergraduate students were asked to study 8 metabolic pathways using standard text-only descriptions.
In Condition B, 18 different biology undergraduate students were asked to study the same 8 metabolic pathways using dual-coded flowcharts containing both text and simplified structural diagrams.
The results of a recall test administered 48 hours later are displayed in Table 1 below.
Table 1: Number of participants who successfully recalled all 8 metabolic pathways in the correct chronological sequence
| Condition A (Text-only) | Condition B (Dual-coded flowcharts) |
|---|---|
| 7 | 14 |
Following the recall test, the researcher administered a short Likert-scale questionnaire to all 36 participants to assess their self-reported cognitive load during the initial study phase.
Identify an aim of this investigation.
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