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How was perceived effort measured?

Posted by SMcGrath on 19 Nov 2012 at 11:18 GMT

The perceived effort required to complete the cognitive tests was significantly higher in patients with CFS [M = 6.2, SD = 1.5] compared to control subjects [M = 4.9, SD = 1.2; t(68) = 3.97, p<0.001; d = 0.96]
http://plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0049518#article1.body1.sec3.sec3.p1

I could find no mention in the methods section of how "perceived effort" is measured, though I suspect it might be by a 10-point Likert scale as per fatigue and energy. Please can you clarify how and when perceived effort was measured.

No competing interests declared.

RE: How was perceived effort measured?

ute_vollmer-conna replied to SMcGrath on 21 Nov 2012 at 04:33 GMT

You are right, we measured 'percieved effort' after our participants completed the tests in the same way we measured mental and physical fatigue (10-point Likert scale).... a subjective self-assessment

Competing interests declared: I am the senior author of the paper