Unraveling the Dynamics of Perceived Effort: Exploring the Interplay of Cognitive and Physical Demand in Sports

• Applicants: Dr. Maik Bieleke; Professorin Dr. Julia Schüler; Dr. Wanja Wolff
• Subject Area: General, Cognitive and Mathematical Psychology
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 559979393

Most daily activities involve concurrent cognitive and physical effort, yet research has typically studied them in isolation. The proposed research aims to fill this gap by (1) systematically investigating how individuals allocate effort in response to determinants of effort allocation outlined in all contemporary models of effort and (2) examine the effects of rewarding cognitive versus physical effort on effort value. Only made possible through our development of a novel pegboard system that enables the concurrent, yet independent manipulation of cognitive and physical task demands within a single motor task. Our research has two primary aims. The first (Studies 1–3) focuses on understanding how task demands, and outcome values influence effort allocation across cognitive and physical domains. In Study 1, we systematically examine how varying cognitive and physical task demands impact the allocated effort. Study 2 investigates how varying outcome values influence the effort allocation in tasks demanding cognitive or physical effort. Study 3 explores how concurrent cognitive and physical demands interact within a single motor task with varying outcome values. This study aims to gather evidence in areas where contemporary effort theories lack clear predictions, despite assumptions that these theories apply equally to cognitive and physical domains. The second aim (Studies 4–6) investigates how rewarding effort affects its perceived value in a motor task with cognitive, physical or concurrent demands. In the Studies 4 (Cognitive Effort) and 5 (Physical Effort) we will investigate the effects of rewarding either cognitive effort or physical effort on effort allocation. This design will enable the thorough comparison of trajectories of effort valuation as well as an exploration into generalization effects. Study 6 examines how rewards affect effort valuation when cognitive and physical demands are imposed simultaneously, again gathering exploratory evidence where learning theories do not provide predictions and therefore closing a critical gap in the literature. We utilize a custom build pegboard system, developed and built by our research group in cooperation with the Scientific Engineering Service at the University of Konstanz which allows us to vary cognitive and physical demands within a single motor task independently. Across six studies, we will use this motor task in within- and between-subject designs to investigate the determinants of effort allocation specified in contemporary effort models. By integrating cognitive and physical demands in a single task, this research advances our understanding of effort allocation, bridging key gaps in effort theories. It extends beyond the predictive scope of contemporary models of effort and effort valuing, providing valuable insights into how effort is perceived and rewarded in ecologically valid situations involving concurrent cognitive and physical deman

• DFG Programme: Research Grants