Does switching between strategies within the same task involve a cost?
In two experiments, participants had to switch regularly between two cognitive strategies of a different complexity in the context of a numerosity judgement task. Expt 1 comprised bivalent stimuli (i.e. allowing the application of the two strategies), whereas Expt 2 involved univalent stimuli (i.e. allowing the application of only one strategy). Both experiments revealed that switching between strategies entailed a cognitive cost that was reflected in longer response times on switch compared to non-switch trials but not in reduced accuracy. The size of this switch cost did not differ as a function of strategy complexity but tended to diminish as a strategy became more appropriate for solving a particular problem. We discuss the extent to which current theories of task switching can account for these findings.
Luwel
Koen
K
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Koen.Luwel@ped.kuleuven.be
Schillemans
Viki
V
Onghena
Patrick
P
Verschaffel
Lieven
L
D001288:Attention; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003118:Color Perception; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D055641:Mathematical Concepts; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011340:Problem Solving; D011930:Reaction Time; D012193:Reversal Learning; D055815:Young Adult