Does switching between strategies within the same task involve a cost?

Authors: Luwel, Koen¹; Schillemans, Viki¹; Onghena, Patrick¹; Verschaffel, Lieven¹

Source: British Journal of Psychology, Volume 100, Number 4, November 2009 , pp. 753-771(19)

Publisher: British Psychological Society

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Abstract:

In two experiments, participants had to switch regularly between two cognitive strategies of a different complexity in the context of a numerosity judgement task. Expt 1 comprised bivalent stimuli (i.e. allowing the application of the two strategies), whereas Expt 2 involved univalent stimuli (i.e. allowing the application of only one strategy). Both experiments revealed that switching between strategies entailed a cognitive cost that was reflected in longer response times on switch compared to non-switch trials but not in reduced accuracy. The size of this switch cost did not differ as a function of strategy complexity but tended to diminish as a strategy became more appropriate for solving a particular problem. We discuss the extent to which current theories of task switching can account for these findings.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1348/000712609X402801

Affiliations: 1: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

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