Cognitive Engagement Scale (CES) in an Online Environment: Construction and Validation

Abstract

Researchers have demonstrated linkages between active engagement of students with learning material and greater learning gains. Cognitive engagement is a significant component of educational experience. Understanding the challenges associated with cognitive engagement and measuring cognitive engagement in a MOOC environment is challenging. It is the need of the hour with online learning being equivalent to classroom learning in today’s dynamic academic environment. The present study aims to construct cognitive engagement scale (CES) to measure the cognitive engagement of learners who sign up for the massive open online courses (MOOC). The aim of this study is dual-fold: firstly, to conceptualize the cognitive dimension of learner engagement within MOOCs, and secondly, to construct a theoretically informed scale for assessing cognitive engagement in online environments. Study presents a detailed process of the scale development, which included item generation, item evaluation, pilot testing, testing psychometric properties of the scale, and scale refinement. The researchers crafted the initial questionnaire drawing from both existing literature and personal insights. Subject matter experts then validated the items within the questionnaire and ensured its reliability through a pilot study, where it was administered to a sample of 100 participants The final version of the scale captures the four dimensions of cognitive engagement: Passive receiving, active manipulating, constructive generating, and interactive dialoguing. The present study contributes to the growing literature on cognitive engagement and adds to the existing literature of MOOC engagement scale with focus on cognitive engagement exclusively.