title: Using PPT to correct for inconsistency in a speeded task.
abstract: Two experiments employed Potential Performance Theory (PPT) to correct for inconsistency in a speeded task. In Experiment 1, a search task was employed whereby participants searched for a target letter among distracters. In Experiment 2, the search task was more complex and naturalistic-participants searched for enemy weapons in aerial photographs. Not surprisingly, the results revealed that longer search times led to greater accuracy. However, this improvement was due only in part to improved search strategies. Much, if not most, of the improvement was due to increased consistency. The authors demonstrate and discuss some of the advantages to be gained by considering a speeded task within the context of a clear and mathematically precise theory (PPT).
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, MSC 3452, New Mexico State University, PO Box 30001, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001, USA. sc_rice@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trafimow
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Gayle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Kasha
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Geels
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D003118:Color Perception; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011930:Reaction Time; D055815:Young Adult