An Analysis of Performance in a Two Object Arrival Time Task

Abstract

Three experiments investigated factors affecting performance in relative arrival time judgments. Male and female subjects predicted which of two moving objects in a computer controlled display would arrive first at a target. The relative arrival time of the objects, speed ratios, and path relations were varied. Results of the first experiment included a systematic pattern of error associated with an apparent distance bias. The second and third experiments added relative speed and distance judgment tasks. It was found that the levels of relative speed and distance employed in the arrival time task were discriminable and that performance in the speed and distance tasks was moderately predictive of performance in the arrival time task. It was also found that despite the evidence of a distance bias subjects did attempt to integrate speed related information in their decisions. The third experiment assessed the stability of performance in each of the tasks over time and provided evidence of individual differences in the ability to coordinate information.