Sequential effects in deductioncost of inference switch

  1. Gómez Milán, Emilio
  2. Moreno Ríos, Sergio
  3. Espino Morales, Orlando
  4. Santamaría Moreno, Carlos
  5. González Hernández, Antonio
Journal:
Psicológica: Revista de metodología y psicología experimental

ISSN: 1576-8597

Year of publication: 2010

Volume: 31

Issue: 2

Pages: 171-198

Type: Article

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Abstract

The task-switch paradigm has helped psychologists gain insight into the processes involved in changing from one activity to another. The literature has yielded consistent results about switch cost reconfiguration (abrupt offset in regular task-switch vs. gradual reduction in random task-switch; endogenous and exogenous components of switch cost; cost asymmetry...). In this study we present several experiments in which we investigated the reconfiguration process elicited by task switching between Modus Ponens and Modus Tollens. We found that the switch from one inference to a new one produces impairment in accuracy as an increase in reaction time (cost of inference switch). Moreover, with random sequences and a long response stimulus interval we found a gradual improvement in Modus Tollens repetitions. Both results are compatible with the task reconfiguration hypothesis.

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