L12B: Performance Curves Flashcards
What Four factors can influence the shape of
a performance curve?
1: Between-person variability, when group
average data is shown
2: Within-person variability from trial to trial,
when data across blocks are shown
3: Scoring sensitivity (how sensitive is the
measure to changes in performance?)
4: Ceiling and floor effects (related to sensitivity, but about measures that are too easy or too hard)
What is Between-person variability?
Individual performance curves can be different to the group
What is Within-person variability?
individual’s performance across trials can
look different to block averages
What is Scoring Sensitivity?
How stringently things are measured affects
shape of performance curve
Scoring Sensitivity is about the ability of your
measure to capture change
How can we vary how Stringent we are?
(Free Throw Example)
Stringent Example
So each bandwidth is more/less sensitive to variation: being
precise (strict) or allowing variation (relaxed).
What is Stringent criteria regarding “success”?
Small error bandwidth =
within 5% of total width of screen
What is medium criteria regarding “success”
Medium bandwidth =
within 15% of total width of screen
What is relaxed criteria regarding success?
Lax bandwidth =
within 30% of total width of screen
Example Summary
What is measured impacts conclusions about acquisition and
how (and how much) people improve across time
What are Ceiling and Floor Effects?
Obscurechange in performance due to scale limits
Most tasks have an absolute score that no one can exceed (e.g., zero errors, 100% time on target)
What is a Ceiling Effect?
What is a Floor Effect?
Limitations at top of the scale = ceiling effects
Limitations at bottom of the scale = floor effects
What happens as we approach the ceiling/floor?
As person approaches the ceiling/floor on the measurement scale, the changes in performance may become increasingly insensitive to the internal changes in learning
Ex. Ceiling effect for the 30% criteria:
What are the 2 Methods to Measure Learning?
- Absolute Retention
- Relative Retention
What is Absolute Retention?
What does performance look like when measured after a
break – typically min. 24 hours? Pure measure of learning
*Useful for comparing across different groups or people after a practice intervention, when individuals ~matched to start. *
What is Relative Retention?
(relative to prior practice)
What has been forgotten or preserved over the retention
interval? Not a pure measure of learning, as impacted by
temporary (performance) factors, in the calculation
What is memory consolidation?
memory consolidation is the neurobiological
process of retention
When does memory consolidation occur?
Occurs at cellular (indiv synapses) & system level (brain regions)
- What we do during practice impacts memory consolidation – EG: How much/hard we practice, degree of improvement, type of task
- What we do after practice impacts memory consolidation – EG: How much time, sleep, practice of other skills/activities, interference
Skill retention also depends on the type of skill…
Which do you think are most resistant to forgetting
(and interference) over time?
Summary
