Set- and Element-Level Stimulus-Response Compatibility Effects for Different Manual Response Sets.

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Human Factors Engineering

Background:

• Previous research indicated higher set-level compatibility when spatial stimuli mapped to bimanual responses and verbal stimuli to unimanual movements.
• Element-level compatibility effects were also larger under high set-level compatibility conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and evaluate the determinants of stimulus-response compatibility differences.
• To further understand the factors influencing set-level and element-level compatibility.

Main Methods:

• Four experiments were conducted with a total of 120 student participants.
• The study systematically varied stimulus types (spatial, verbal) and response modalities (unimanual, bimanual) across keyboard and screen interfaces.

Main Results:

• The primary determinant of set-level compatibility variation was the number of effectors used (one vs. two).
• Differences in element-level compatibility effects were primarily driven by the response interface (screen vs. keyboard).

Conclusions:

• The findings clarify the distinct contributions of effector count and response modality to stimulus-response compatibility.
• Results have implications for refining models of stimulus-response compatibility, particularly in interface design.