Future Directions: A Methodological Synthesis of Cognitive Task Complexity Research
Abstract
Based on a systematic methodological synthesis of research published in peer-reviewed journals since 2010, this chapter provides directions for future research on cognitive task complexity in language learning. The results of this synthesis suggest that research on cognitive task complexity has largely been carried out among adult learners of English and has primarily focused on the effects of a restricted set of complexity variables (notably, +/− few elements, +/− reasoning demands, and +/− planning time) on individual speaking and writing production. To augment the existing body of research, future researchers should consider task complexity in a wider range of learning contexts, examine the effects of less researched complexity dimensions (and individual difference factors), and design studies to measure the effects of task complexity on language development over time.
Publication Title
Cognitive Task Complexity and Second Language Performance Understanding L2 Learner Affect and Engagement
Recommended Citation
Adams, R. (2025). Future Directions: A Methodological Synthesis of Cognitive Task Complexity Research. Cognitive Task Complexity and Second Language Performance Understanding L2 Learner Affect and Engagement, 215-237. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003500216-16
