Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Employees of temporary agencies practiced Space Fortress, a complex video game task, for 10 sessions, each consisting of 8 practice and 2 test games of 3 min each. Trainees practiced individually, in dyads, or in tetrads, and they were classified as having high or low aptitude based on computer attitude scores and baseline performance. Competition for monetary prizes was introduced early in training, late in training, or not at all. Competition facilitated high-aptitude trainees but not low-aptitude trainees. Group size and the timing of competition instructions had no main effects or interactions. The results are discussed in terms of social facilitation theory, according to which competition facilitates dominant responses, which helps high-skill trainees but not low-skill trainees.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Alain, C. , & Sarrazin, C. (1990) Study of decision-making in squash competition: A computer simulation approach. Canadian Journal of Sport Sciences, 15, 193–200.

Arthur, W. Jr. , & Olson, E. (1991) Computer attitudes, computer experience, and their correlates: An investigation of path linkages. Teaching of Psychology, 18, 51–54.

Cottrell, N. B. , Wack, D. L. , & Sekerak, G. J. (1968) Social facilitation of dominant responses by the presence of an audience and the mere presence of others. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 9, 245–250.

Curry, B. , & Moutinho, L. (1992) Using computer simulations in management education. Management Education and Development, 23, 155–167.

Donchin, E. (1989) The learning strategies project: Introductory remarks. Acta Psychologica, 71, 1–15.

Frederiksen, J. R. , & White, B. Y. (1989) An approach to training based on principled task decomposition. Acta Psychologica, 71, 89–146.

Gopher, B. , Weil, M. , & Bareket, T. (1994). Transfer of skill from a computer game trainer to flight. Human Factors, 36, 387–405.

Gopher, D. , Weil, M. , & Siegel, D. (1989) Practice under changing priorities: An approach to the training of complex skills. Acta Psychologica, 71, 147–178.

Guerin, B. (1993). Social facilitation. Paris: Cambridge.

10.

Johnson, D. W. , & Johnson, R. T. (1975). Learning together and alone: Cooperation, competition, and individualization. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

11.

Johnston, A. N. , Regian, J. W. , & Shebilske, W. L. (1995). Observational learning and training of complex skills in laboratory and applied settings. In N. Johnston , R. Fuller , & N. McDonald (Eds.), Aviation psychology: Training and selection (pp. 316–323). London: Avery.

12.

Kay, R. H. (1993) An exploration of theoretical and practical foundations for assessing attitudes toward computers: The Computer Attitude Measure (CAM). Computers in Human Behavior, 9, 371–386.

13.

Mane, A. M. , & Donchin, E. (1989) The Space Fortress game. Acta Psychologica, 71, 17–22.

14.

McKeachie, W. J. (1969) Interaction of achievement cues and facilitating anxiety in the achievement of women. Journal of Applied Psychology, 53, 147–148.

15.

Sanders, G. S. , & Baron, R. S. (1975) The motivating effects of distraction on task performance. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 32, 956–963.

16.

Shea, C. , Shebilske, W. L. , & Worchel, S. (1993). Motor learning and motor control. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

17.

Shebilske, W. L. , Goettl, B. , & Regian, J. W. (in press). Individual and group protocols for training complex skills in laboratory and applied settings. In D. Gopher & A. Koriat (Eds.), Attention and performance XVII. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

18.

Shebilske, W. L. , Regian, J. W. , Arthur, W. Jr. , & Jordan, J. A. (1992) A dyadic protocol for training complex skills. Human Factors, 34, 369–374.

19.

Strommen, E. F. (1993) “Does yours eat leaves?” Cooperative learning in an educational software task. Journal of Computing in Childhood Education, 4, 45–56.

20.

Zajonc, R. B. (1965) Social facilitation. Science, 149, 269–274.

Competition and Performance on a Computer-Based Complex Perceptual-Motor Task

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References