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Understanding effort regulation: Comparing 'Pomodoro' breaks and self-regulated breaks
Felicitas Biwer1, Wisnu Wiradhany2, Mirjam G A Oude Egbrink3
1Department of Educational Development and Research, Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, School of Health Professions Education (SHE), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
The British Journal of Educational Psychology
|March 1, 2023
Summary
Systematic breaks during study sessions improved mood and efficiency compared to self-regulated breaks. Students using systematic breaks completed tasks faster with similar effort, unlike those who chose their own break times.
Area of Science:
- Educational Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Learning Sciences
Background:
- Effective self-study requires students to manage mental effort and working memory.
- Taking breaks is a potential strategy for effort regulation, but its link to self-regulated learning is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of systematic versus self-regulated breaks on mental effort, task experience, and completion during a one-day study session.
Main Methods:
- Eighty-seven university students participated in an online study intervention.
- Three break conditions were compared: self-regulated breaks, systematic breaks (6-min break/24-min study), and systematic breaks (3-min break/12-min study).
Main Results:
- Self-regulated breaks led to longer study and break durations, increased fatigue, and reduced concentration and motivation.
- No significant differences were observed in invested mental effort or task completion across the groups.
Conclusions:
- Systematic, pre-determined breaks offer mood and potential efficiency benefits over self-regulated breaks.
- Further research is needed to understand the dynamics of mental effort and break regulation during learning.
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