Interactions between instructions for speed vs accuracy and performance
Hedges, D.G.; Dickinson, J.
Perceptual and Motor Skills 48(2): 459-464
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-5125
Accession: 005726171
Male [20] and female [20] human subjects were blocked in 4 groups (5 males and 5 females) of each 10 in a Fitts tapping task. All subjects performed eighteen 15-s trials. Accuracy group trials were all under accuracy-with-speed instructions; speed group with trials were under speed-maximizing instructions. Half-and-half group subjects undertook 9 accuracy and 9 speed trials; alternating group subjects had 9 of each type of trial, alternating with each trial. Number of responses, target bandwidth and average amplitude of response were found for each trial using a 10% maximum error criterion on accuracy trials. Significant performance, instruction and interaction effects were observed between accuracy and speed groups. Alternating speed with accuracy trials tended to improve information-processing rate of speed trials when compared with speed-only subjects but to depress accuracy information-processing scores when compared with accuracy-only subjects. Feedback redundancy and the information-processing capacity of the motor and visual systems are discussed.