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- Title
The effects of task switching during the acquisition and retention of timing tasks.
- Authors
Fairbrother, Jeffrey T.; Nguyen, Tim
- Abstract
Previous research has demonstrated switching effects on the performance of multisegment timing tasks (Fairbrother & Nguyen, 2006), with a switched condition showing less accurate performance than a repeated condition during acquisition. Retention revealed a pattern of results similar to that seen in studies of contextual interference effects, with the switched condition performing more accurately than the repeated condition. Interestingly, this pattern emerged despite the fact that the switched condition was transferred to a switched test while the repeated condition was transferred to a repeated test. The purpose of the present study was to extend the examination of switching effects during the acquisition and retention of timing tasks. Participants completed 64 acquisition trials followed by two 16-trial retention tests (one switched, one repeated). In the repeated condition (REP) tasks were presented in blocks with the order counterbalanced. In the switched condition (SW), tasks were presented in an alternating fashion. The tasks required the participant to lift the index finger from the "2" key, depress the "6" key, and then depress the "5" key in either 650 ms or 1,000 ms. KR on overall time was provided during acquisition but not retention. Acquisition results indicated that the 650-ms task was performed more accurately than the 100-ms task as indexed by both constant error (CE; p < .001) and absolute constant error (ACE; p < .001). No practice schedule effects were found. During retention, a Task x Test interaction (p = .006) in CE and a main effect for test (p = .023) in ACE revealed switching effects. Constant error results indicated that the 1,000-ms task was performed with less accuracy during the switched test than during the repeated test. In contrast, ACE results indicated that both tasks were performed with more accuracy during the switched test than during the repeated test. Thus, the retention results for ACE were consistent with the previous study while results for CE suggested a decrement in the absence of KR.
- Subjects
MOTOR ability research; KINESIOLOGY; PSYCHOLOGY of movement; ERROR; PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY; HUMAN mechanics research
- Publication
Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 2007, Vol 29, pS70
- ISSN
0895-2779
- Publication type
Article