The processing time of the relevant (color) and irrelevant (word) stimulus dimensions in a Stroop color word test were each varied by manipulating the amount of information in the color and word sets from which the stimuli were obtained. Interference in the Stroop task was found to increase with increases in relevant and irrelevant stimulus information. It was concluded that the findings of increased interference with increases in both word and color processing time supported a perceptual conflict interpretation of Stroop task interference.
A retroactive interference paradigm was used to determine whether kinesthetic distance, location, or distance and location cues are used at recall of a blind, simple linear movement. Students performed interpolated movements which varied distance and location cues separately or jointly. Relative to a rest condition, joint distance and location interpolation produced significant interference while no significant interference was found for interpolation of individual distance or location. The results were interpreted as supporting the involvement of multiple kinesthetic cues in the establishment of memorial representations of motor movements.
The study examined the effects of information load and syntax in user-initiated text formatting commands on the performance of computer-naive operators. Information load was varied through the number of parameters following the command and the number of alternatives for each parameter. Parameter values were specified using two types of syntax: mnemonic words and sequential numbers. Measures of operator response time and accurracy were taken on tests of command specification and command interpretation. Increases in the number of command parameters and number of alternatives per parameter contributed equally to increases in response time. Response time for word syntax was slower than numeric syntax. Performance improvements over tests were greater for word syntax than numeric syntax. The findings were interpreted as indicating the importance of the association value of words used in software languages which use English words.
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