Hill, Nicole Michelle
(2010)
The role of spatial consistency in dual-task detection: Implications for automatic and controlled search.
Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
The goal of this dissertation is to understand what enables successful dual-task performance when one of the component tasks continuously requires attention. Simultaneously performing two tasks is extremely challenging. When first attempting to dual-task, performance tends to be effortful and error prone even when both tasks have been trained extensively in isolation. Although single-task practice is helpful, dual-task practice is necessary in order to learn how to coordinate, integrate and prioritize component tasks. Dual-tasking is cognitively resource intensive and therefore it is critical to automate as much task related processing as possible. When one of the component tasks continuously requires attention, such as a varied-mapped (VM) task, it presents an additional challenge. Schneider and Fisk (1982a) demonstrated that the attention-consuming VM task must be prioritized throughout training in order for the performer to learn to dual-task without cost. Furthermore, they demonstrated that cost-free dual-tasking is only possible when the attention-consuming VM task is paired with an automatic consistently-mapped (CM) task. Hill and Schneider conducted pilot research demonstrating that participants were unable to prioritize the attention-consuming VM task despite intention and extensive training. The current study is an attempt to understand the source of this failure. Three hypotheses were tested, 1) CM target pop-out enables CM-VM proficient dual-tasking, 2) consistent spatial search across task load enables proficient dual-tasking 3) distractor segregation impedes proficient dual-tasking. Four experiments were conducted in which participants attempted to learn to perform a CM-VM dual-task without cost. All participants were instructed to prioritize the attention-consuming VM task; however some experimental groups incurred greater dual-task interference. The behavioral data suggests that both CM task pop-out and consistent spatial search across task loads enable CM-VM dual-task performance without cost. The result highlights the importance of minimizing confusability and implementing multiple levels of consistency when attempting to train a cognitively intensive high workload skill.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| ETD Committee: |
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| Date: |
18 June 2010 |
| Date Type: |
Completion |
| Defense Date: |
26 January 2010 |
| Approval Date: |
18 June 2010 |
| Submission Date: |
22 April 2010 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences > Psychology |
| Degree: |
PhD - Doctor of Philosophy |
| Thesis Type: |
Doctoral Dissertation |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
automatic processing; automaticity; consistent mapping; controlled processing; popout; spatial consistency; varied mapping; dual task; timesharing |
| Other ID: |
http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-04222010-205204/, etd-04222010-205204 |
| Date Deposited: |
10 Nov 2011 19:41 |
| Last Modified: |
19 Dec 2016 14:35 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/7528 |
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