Complexity of Calculation Task

What it measures

A three-item scale measuring a consumer's subjective perception of the difficulty and cognitive load involved in a numerical calculation task. Items tap the overall complexity of the task, the difficulty of tracking multiple elements simultaneously, and the computational challenge involved. Developed as a manipulation check for calculation difficulty in grocery budgeting research, the scale is applicable more broadly to any experimental context in which the perceived cognitive complexity of a numerical or arithmetic task is relevant.

Representative items

• This was a complicated task.
• I had difficulty with keeping track.
• This was a complex calculation.

Citation

Van Ittersum, Koert, Joost M. E. Pennings, and Brian Wansink (2010). Trying harder and doing worse: How grocery shoppers track in-store spending. Journal of Marketing, 74(2), 90–104.