Drive Level Effects on Tasks of Narrow and Broad Attention

Abstract

Easterbrook (1959) has predicted that (a) performance on tasks involving the use of a wide,range of cues will be impaired under high-drive conditions and that (b) performance on tasks requiring the use of only a narrow range of cues will be facilitated under such conditions.Using the Porteus Maze Test, relatively clear evidence was obtained to support the first prediction. Using the Stroop Colour Word Interference Test some evidence was obtained in support of the second prediction.In a recent review of the literature, Easterbrook (1959) has proposed that high drive leads to reduction in the range of cue utilization, or in other words to a narrowing of attention. Whether performance is facilitated or disrupted by high drive depends upon the range of cues demanded by a given task. For example, a reduction in the range of cue use, as a result of high drive, will impair performance on a complex multi-cue task on the assumption that some task-relevant cues will be omitted from attention. Conversely, such a reduction of cue use will lead to improved Performance on a simple task, one requiring a few selected cues, on the assumption that task irrelevant cues and distractions are omitted from attention.Using a multi-cue task, Bahrick, Fitts and Rankin (1952) reported that increasing rewards for total task proficiency led to gains in central task tracking but a t the cost of proficiency in responding to peripheral task lights. Callaway and his co-workers (1958a, 1958b) having subjects respond rapidly to colour tints, while attempting to ignore the inappropriate colour names on which they were superimposed, reported superior performance for high drive (stimulant drug) subjects.It is the purpose of this study to test Easterbrook's proposal that increases in drive level adversely affect performance on tasks involving the simultaneous use of a large number of relevant cues, such as Porteus Maze Test (1~5g), but lead to improved performance on tasks requiring the selection of relatively few cues, such as the Stroop Colour Word Interference Test (1935). METHOD Subjects.The subjects were 50 male undergraduate students, ranging in age from 17 to 32 years, who were assigned a t random to one of three groups which did not differ in terms of age distribution.Measures. All subjects received the Ishihara Test for colour blindness, in addition to repeat testing on the Stroop and Porteus Tests.The Stroop Test consists of three cards. On the first card, the names of four colours (red, blue, yellow, green) are printed IOO times in random order while on the second card dots are painted in the same four colours and arranged roo times in random order. The third card contains IOO examples of the four colours superimposed on the printed names of the colours, the actual colour being superimposed on the name of a different colour. For example, the printed word "red" may be tinted yellow or blue. For Card I, the subject is required to read the names of the colours as quickly as possible. On Card I1 he is required to report the colour of each o...

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