processing efficiency theory

Question 1

processing efficiency theory (Eysenck and Calvo 1992)

Answer 1

based on assumption that individuals have limited pool of attentional resources and refers to the amount of resources used to perform a task - more resources used = less efficient processing

Question 2

first function of anxiety according to PET

Answer 2

consume attentional resources- anxiety reduces processing efficiency so too much anxiety is bad because it reduces the amount of attentional resources devoted to the task

Question 3

why is some anxiety good

Answer 3

the second function of anxiety is to increase effort - in these situations processing efficiency is still reduced but performance level is not (effort can only improve performance if some resources are spare)

Question 4

testing PET (smith et al 2001)

Answer 4

measured anxiety and effort (questionnaire) and performance in volleyball- results matched predictions that performance will improve with increased effort in low but not high trait anxious players

Question 5

testing PET using psychophysiology (Wilson et al 2006)

Answer 5

Measured anxiety (questionnaire), effort (pupillary diameter), performance (rally driving time)- results showed increased anxiety and effort in competition but bad performance due to extra effort not able to compensate for overload attentional capacity

Question 6

effort and pupillary diameter

Answer 6

the muscle which dilates the pupil is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system - task evoked dilation of the pupil reflects increased mental activity (effort)

Question 7

limitations of pupillary diameter as a measure of effort

Answer 7

pupil diameter is affected by changes in ambient light and near reflexes - only suitable as a measure of effort when these factors are controlled

Question 8

testing PET using psychophysiology (Wilson et al 2007)

Answer 8

measured anxiety (questionnaire), effort (HR variability) and performance (gold putting)- results showed increased anxiety but no difference in effort between practice and competition or performance - limited support for PET

Question 9

effort and heart rate variability (HRV)

Answer 9

HRV refers to the beat to beat fluctuation of the heart rhythm caused by changes in the parasympathetic and sympathetic neural influences- HRV decreases with increased mental effort

Question 10

testing PET using psychophysiology (cooke et al 2010)

Answer 10

measured anxiety (HR muscle tension), effort (questionnaire and HRV), performance (golf)- results showed increased anxiety & effort with increase pressure and performance decreased but not error

Question 11

mediation analyses of PET

Answer 11

tests the relationship among variables to examine the causes of main effects of the outcome - forearm EMG(anxiety) supports PET but self report effort contrary to PET

Question 12

anxiety reduces processing efficiency but

Answer 12

doesn’t necessarily reduce performance effectiveness