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Related Concept Videos

Decision Making01:20

Decision Making

Decision-making is a fundamental cognitive process that involves evaluating alternatives and selecting among them. This process can range from simple choices, such as deciding what to wear, to complex decisions, like choosing a major in college or a career path. The complexity of the decision often dictates the approach we use, which can be broadly categorized into two types: automatic and controlled decision-making.
Automatic decision-making is fast, intuitive, and relies on gut feelings...
Timing and Consequences on Behavior01:08

Timing and Consequences on Behavior

In operant conditioning, the timing of reinforcement is crucial. For animals like rats and cats, immediate reinforcement (within a few seconds) is much more effective than delayed reinforcement. For example, a food reward for a rat needs to follow within 30 seconds of pressing a bar to be effective. 
Humans, however, can respond to delayed reinforcers. We often make decisions between immediate small rewards and delayed larger rewards. This ability to delay gratification is a significant factor...
Decision Making: Traditional Method01:14

Decision Making: Traditional Method

The process of hypothesis testing based on the traditional method includes calculating the critical value, testing the value of the test statistic using the sample data, and interpreting these values.
First, a specific claim about the population parameter is decided based on the research question and is stated in a simple form. Further, an opposing statement to this claim is also stated. These statements can act as null and alternative hypotheses, out of which a null hypothesis would be a...

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Related Experiment Video

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Measuring the Switch Cost of Smartphone Use While Walking
07:00

Measuring the Switch Cost of Smartphone Use While Walking

Published on: April 30, 2020

Choosing to switch: spontaneous task switching despite associated behavioral costs.

Yoav Kessler1, Yael Shencar, Nachshon Meiran

  • 1Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel. ykessler@rotman-baycrest.on.ca

Acta Psychologica
|April 24, 2009
PubMed
Summary

People spontaneously switch cognitive tasks, even when it incurs a performance cost. This study reveals task switching occurs frequently, challenging previous assumptions about cost-benefit predictions in cognitive task management.

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive psychology
  • Decision-making
  • Human behavior

Background:

  • Task switching literature indicates significant performance costs.
  • Cost-benefit analyses suggest spontaneous task switching is unlikely.
  • Previous research highlights difficulties in switching between simple cognitive tasks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the phenomenon of spontaneous task switching.
  • To determine if task switching occurs despite known performance costs.
  • To explore potential explanations for spontaneous task switching.

Main Methods:

  • Experiment 1: Participants judged shapes based on dimensions, with the option to switch tasks.
  • Experiment 2: Assessed spontaneous switching from an easy task to a more difficult one.
  • Utilized a controlled experimental design to observe voluntary task selection.

Main Results:

  • Spontaneous task switching was observed to be a prevalent behavior.
  • Switching costs did not prevent participants from spontaneously changing tasks.
  • Participants even switched from easier tasks to more demanding ones voluntarily.

Conclusions:

  • Spontaneous task switching is a robust cognitive phenomenon.
  • The occurrence of task switching may be unpreventable or even beneficial.
  • Findings challenge traditional cost-benefit models of cognitive task management.