A cognitive laboratory is a type of qualitative research study where researchers collect observable evidence of participants’ unobservable thought processes related to a particular phenomenon. Observable evidence often includes participant verbalizations as they think aloud during a phenomenon or provide answers to interview questions retrospectively after a phenomenon. Common phenomena explored during labs include the thought processes participants use to solve and mark responses to assessment, survey, or questionnaire items as well as how participants interpret and interact with other types of information such as reading passages, websites, software, or student assessment score reports. This entry introduces two methods of obtaining data during cognitive labs and then briefly summarizes the steps of developing, conducting, and analyzing the results of cognitive lab studies.

The think aloud ...

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