Unit 2 Lec 2: Skilled performance and information processing

Question 1

What are the 4 factors affecting the flow of information processing?

Answer 1

1. Limited Capacity
2. Speed-accuracy Characteristics
3. Response Time
4. Limiting principle

Question 2

Limited capacity

Answer 2

Limited capacity conceptualizes that humans can only process limited information at a limited amount of time without being overloaded. This process of information can either get lost or filtered by the system. Processing time for each stage is cumulative and adds up to response time.

Question 3

Speed accuracy

Answer 3

If the processing time is too short, efficiency of performance suffers, and information is distorted. When a task requires both speed and accuracy, performers must make a choice between the two criteria.

Question 4

Fitt’s Law

Answer 4

• allows us to predict the time it will take to perform a task

Question 5

Why skilled performers are more accurate and speed efficient

Answer 5

• skilled performers are faster at a task meaning they have increased their information processing capacity.
• the increase in capacity is due the storage of past experience in long-term memory
• this process is learned by the third stage of learning (autonomous processing)
• When dealing with a lot of information, action is automated and unconscious. This process is called chunking.

Question 6

Response time

Answer 6

• The sum of separate times for each function/mental operation

Question 7

Limiting principle

Answer 7

• Cannot determine from the end result of an action the reasons for
  successful or unsuccessful performance.
• Must analyze the action to determine which stage produced the problem.

Question 8

Learning

Answer 8

• a permanent improvement in performance- the result of practice or experience

Question 9

Characteristics of learning Four characteristics of performance that indicate learning:

Answer 9

1. Improvement – is the action faster, more accurate?
2. Consistency – are the improvements in the action repeatable?
3. Persistence – are the improvements in the action maintained over time?
4. Adaptability – can the characteristics of action change based on task/environmental
   demands?