Appendix A
Digital Workforce Cognitive Load Assessment (DWCLA)
Instructions: Rate the following statements on a scale of 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 5 (Strongly Agree).
Section 1 · Work Organization (ISO 45003)
- 01I find it difficult to stop thinking about technical problems after working hours.
- 02I feel that AI tools have increased the expectation for speed beyond my mental capacity.
- 03I rarely experience a sense of “full closure” on tasks at the end of the day.
Section 2 · Human-AI Interaction (ISO/IEC 42001)
- 04My role feels ambiguous; I am unsure if I am a creator or just an AI reviewer.
- 05I worry that my core skills are atrophying due to over-reliance on AI.
- 06The fear of AI hallucinations keeps me in a state of hyper-vigilance/anxiety.
Section 3 · Social Factors (ISO 45003)
- 07I spend more time interacting with AI/Screens than with human colleagues.
- 08I feel safe admitting “I don’t know” without fearing comparison to AI.
- Scoring
Item 8 is reverse-scored (6 minus your rating). Average the three sections, then average all eight items for your overall score: 1.0–2.4 low load · 2.5–3.4 moderate · 3.5–5.0 high. The team’s average score is the value A in the Cognitive Load Index. This is a pilot screening tool, not a clinical instrument, and has not yet been statistically validated.
Tip: use ← → to move between sections.