Lab 3a Attentional Capacity

Statement of the Problem

The purpose of this lab experiment is to examine the relationship between attentional capacity and performance.

Reference

Chapter 3

Materials Needed

• Tape

• Open space

• Stop watch

• Tennis ball

• Tennis racket

• Cell phone

• A walking course designed using 12 strips of tape placed across a straight path but at varying distances apart, with 30 cm as the minimum distance and1m as the maximum distance. See Figure 1 for an example.

Procedure

The objective of this task is to complete the walking course as quickly as possible without error, according to instructions in the conditions below. Running is not permitted.

You will take turns in the roles of experimenter and participant. Each participant will complete ve trials in each of the three attention conditions. The experimenter will record the time of completion for each trial on the Conditions Data Sheet, as well as any observations regarding performance changes. Complete all trials before switching roles.

Condition 1

In this condition, the participant must walk the course as quickly as possible, altering stride in order to contact each target line. If he or she misses a target line, repeat the trial.

Condition 2

In Condition 2, the participant will repeat the task outlined in Condition 1 but must now do so while balancing a ball on a tennis racquet. If the participant misses a target line or drops the ball, repeat the trial.

Condition 3

In Condition 3, the participant will repeat the task outlined in Condition 2, but will do so while texting on a cell phone. If the participant misses a target line or drops the ball, repeat the trial.