Abstract
In this research, we investigated the process of preparing strategies for performing choice-reaction tasks. Before each choice-reaction trial, subjects were shown a cue that indicated features of the stimulus-response mapping to be used on the upcoming trial. Subjects used this cue to specify their strategy for responding to the stimulus. The time needed for specifying the strategy was measured by allowing subjects to control the cue presentation and surreptitiously recording how long they spent looking at the cue. The experiments demonstrated that the time to prepare a strategy was a function of the number and nature of the strategy features that had to be specified; simple uncertainty about the possible strategies had little direct effect. The results discon-firmed a serial model in which the time to prepare a strategy is the sum of the times to specify the individual strategy features. A mixed serial-parallel model was proposed as an alternative.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Biederman, I, &Zachary, R. A. (1970). Stimulus versus response probability effects in choice reaction tame.Perception & Psychophysics,7, 189–192
Davis, R. (1964). The combination of information from different sources.Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology,16, 332–339
Dixon, P. (1979). The selection and modification of algorithms in speeded tasks.Dissertation Abstracts International,40, 5437B. (University Microfilms No. 8010927)
Dixon, P. (1981). Algorithms and selective attention.Memory & Cognition,9, 177–184.
Fitts, P M., &Peterson, J. R. (1964). Information capacity of discrete motor responses.Journal of Experimental Psychology,67, 103–112.
Garner, W. R. (1953). An information analysis of absolute judgments of loudness.Journal of Experimental Psychology,46, 373–380
Goodman, D, &Kelso, J. A. S. (1980). Are movements prepared in parts? Not under compatible (naturalized) conditions.Journal of Experimental Psychology General,109, 475–495.
Hick, W. E. (1952). On the rate of gain of information.Quarterly Journal of Psychology,4, 11–26.
Keele, S. W., &Summers, J. J. (1976). The structure of motor programs. In G. E. Stelmach (Ed.),Motor control: Issues and trends (pp. 109–142). New York: Academic Press.
Leonard, J. A. (1958). Partial advance information in a choice reaction task.British Journal of Psychology,49, 89–96.
Logan, G. D., &Zbrodoff, N. J. (1982). Constraints on strategy construction in a speeded discrimination task.Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception & Performance,8, 502–520.
Logan, G. D., Zbrodoff, N. J., &Fostey, A. R. W. (1983). Costs and benefits of strategy construction in a speeded discrimination task.Memory & Cognition,11, 485–493.
Megaw, E. D. (1972). Direction and extent uncertainty m step-input tracking.Journal of Motor Behavior,4, 171–186.
Merikle, P. M., &Coltheart, M. (1972). Selective forward masking.Canadian Journal of Psychology,26, 296–302.
Reeve, T. G., &Proctor, R. W. (1984). On the advance preparation of discrete finger responses.Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception & Performance,10, 541–553.
Rosenbaum, D. A. (1980). Human movement initiation: Specification of arm, direction and extent.Journal of Experimental Psychology: General,109, 444–474
Rosenbaum, D. A. (1983). The movement precuing technique: Assumption, applications, and extensions. In R. A. Magill (Ed.),Movement and control of action (pp. 231–274). Amsterdam: North-Holland.
Shaffer, L. H. (1966). Some effects of partial advance information on choice reaction with fixed or variable S-R mapping.Journal of Experimental Psychology,72, 541–545.
Shiffrin, R. M., &Schneider, W. (1977). Controlled and automatic human information processing: II. Perceptual learning, automatic attending, and a general theory.Psychological Review,84, 127–190
Smith, E. E. (1968). Choice reaction time: An analysis of the major theoretical positions.Psychological Bulletin,69, 77–110.
Sternberg, S. (1969). The discovery of processing stages: Extensions of Donders' method.Acta Psychologica,30, 276–315.
Townsend, J. T. (1984). Uncovering mental processes with factorial experiments.Mathematical Psychology,28, 363–400.
Zelaznik, H. (1978). Precuemg response factors in choice reaction time A word of caution.Journal of Motor Behavior,10, 77–79.
Zelaznik, H. N., Shapiro, D. C., &Carter, M. C. (1982). The specification of digit and duration during motor programming: A new method of precueing.Journal of Motor Behavior,14, 57–68
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported by the United States National Institute of Mental Health (Grant No. MH-29617 to the second author) and by the Natural Science and Engineerning Research Council of Canada (Grant No. A8263 to the first author). Experiments 2 and 3 were reported previously at the 1978 Psychonomic Society Meeting in San Antonio, and in the first author's doctoral dissertation.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dixon, P., Just, M.A. A chronometric analysis of strategy preparation in choice reactions. Mem Cogn 14, 488–500 (1986). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03202520
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03202520