Cambios producidos por la adaptación al EEES en la carga de trabajo de estudiantes de Psicología

Abstract

Alignment with the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) has involved changes in teaching methodology and in the learning process, which have led to a change in student workload. The main aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the perception of the workload of undergraduate and graduate psychology students and to analyse the nature of the changes produced by this adaptation. The sample comprised 845 students (497 readings for the licentiate’s degree and 348 for the bachelor’s degree). To measure perceived workload, the NASA-TLX scale was used. This evaluates the following dimensions: mental demand, physical demand, temporal demand, performance, and frustration/dissatisfaction; these variables were evaluated for the following academic activities: attending theoretical classes, attending practical classes, conducting group work outside the classroom, searching for material and bibliography, studying and personal work, attending tutorials, and other activities (seminars, conferences, etc.). The results show a significant increase in the perceived load of attendance in practical classes, in the performance of group work outside the classroom and in total perceived workload for bachelor’s degree students. It is concluded that adjusting to the EHEA has involved an increase in perceived workload for students. This points to a need to work in the classroom on developing interpersonal skills and planning and organization of teamwork, as well as greater coordination between teachers in the evaluation systems.