Combining Reaction Time and Accuracy: The Relationship Between Working Memory Capacity and Task Switching as a Case Example
Combining Reaction Time and Accuracy: The Relationship Between Working Memory Capacity and Task Switching as a Case Example
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DOI：
10.1177/1745691615596990
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发表时间：
2016-01-01
影响因子：
12.6
通讯作者：
Engle, Randall W.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Draheim, Christopher;Hicks, Kenny L.;Engle, Randall W.
人们普遍认为，任务转换的机制在很大程度上依赖于工作记忆，然而，许多研究都未能表明工作记忆容量(WMC)与任务转换能力之间的密切关系。我们认为这种关系确实存在，但用来衡量任务转换的因变量是有问题的。为了支持我们的说法，我们重新分析了来自两项研究的数据，并使用了一种新的评分程序，将反应时间(RT)和准确性结合到一个评分中。重新分析揭示了任务转换和WMC之间的强烈关系，而当基于RT的转换成本被用作因变量时，这种关系并不存在。我们讨论了这一发现的理论含义，以及我们使用的评分程序的潜在用途和局限性。更广泛地说，我们强调在其他研究领域，特别是在比较认知和发展水平不同的受试者时，使用结合速度和准确性的措施的重要性。
It is generally agreed upon that the mechanisms underlying task switching heavily depend on working memory, yet numerous studies have failed to show a strong relationship between working memory capacity (WMC) and task-switching ability. We argue that this relationship does indeed exist but that the dependent variable used to measure task switching is problematic. To support our claim, we reanalyzed data from two studies with a new scoring procedure that combines reaction time (RT) and accuracy into a single score. The reanalysis revealed a strong relationship between task switching and WMC that was not present when RT-based switch costs were used as the dependent variable. We discuss the theoretical implications of this finding along with the potential uses and limitations of the scoring procedure we used. More broadly, we emphasize the importance of using measures that incorporate speed and accuracy in other areas of research, particularly in comparisons of subjects differing in cognitive and developmental levels.