Cognitive fatigue induced by spaced and massed practice
Effects on idiom accuracy across L2 proficiency levels
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21333124 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Kamal Heidari (0000-0002-5807-9941, Department of Linguistics & Applied Language Studies , 8491 Victoria University of Wellington , Kelburn, 6012 , Wellington , New Zealand, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Publication date | 2025-08-11 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | IRAL - International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0019-042X • E-ISSN: 1613-4141 |
| Publisher | Walter de Gruyter GmbH (PUBLISHER • DE) |
| DOI | 10.1515/iral-2025-0039 |
| OpenAlex | W4413239534 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 41 |
This study investigated the effects of spaced and massed practice on cognitive fatigue across L2 proficiency levels. 92 L2 learners completed idiom comprehension tasks under spaced and massed practice conditions and then the five dimensions of their cognitive fatigue (cognitive, emotional, physical, behavioral, and motivational) were measured in two ways: perceived cognitive fatigue through a self-report scale and performance-based cognitive fatigue via a free recall idiom accuracy test. Results revealed that spaced practice significantly reduced overall cognitive fatigue, with the effect being most pronounced among low-proficiency learners. Results also indicated significant interactions between practice type and proficiency level across all fatigue dimensions. Multiple regression further demonstrated that while cognitive engagement positively predicted idiom comprehension accuracy, physical fatigue emerged as the strongest negative predictor. These results have important implications for L2 pedagogy, highlighting the need for differentiated instruction that considers practice distribution and learners’ susceptibility to various dimensions of cognitive fatigue
Cognition · Cognitive psychology · Comprehension · Developmental psychology · Effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance · Linguistics · Recall · EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning · Language, Metaphor, and Cognition · Psychology · Second Language Acquisition and Learning
Researching Vocabulary
Cognitive Load Theory
Improving Students’ Learning With Effective Learning Techniques
Anxiety and cognitive performance
Mental fatigue impairs physical performance in humans
Task Repetition and Second Language Speech Processing
The multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI) psychometric qualities of an instrument to assess fatigue
Working memory
Understanding the burnout experience
The role of attention control in complex real-world tasks
Working memory, L2 proficiency, and task complexity
Exploring the Relationship Between Second Language Learning Motivation and Proficiency
Massed Task Repetition Is a Double-Edged Sword for Fluency Development
Effectiveness of second language collocation instruction
Spaced vs. massed distribution instruction for L2 grammar learning
The effect of spacing on incidental and deliberate learning of L2 collocations
Learning to predict
Investigating optimal spacing schedules for incidental acquisition of L2 collocations
Motivational Mechanisms Underlying Second Language Achievement
Spacing Effects in Task Repetition Research
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |