Knowledge of Results, Practice, and Sex: Anticipation of Coincidence Revisited

Abstract

Knowledge of results (KR), practice, and sex were varied to examine their effects on anticipation of coincidence. Although these factors have been given empirical attention, the findings have been inconclusive and mixed, possibly for methodological reasons. Such issues were addressed, and an empirical attempt was made to rectify them. Using a Bassin Anticipation Timer, 30 men and 30 women were equally and randomly assigned to three groups: no KR, exact verbal KR, and verbal KR converted to a spatial representation. All subjects received 200 trials from which absolute error (AE), constant error (CE), and variable error (VE) were derived. Analysis of error terms yielded the following findings: KR and practice reduced error (AE and CE), practice alone reduced variability (VE), initial sex differences in AE and CE disappeared so there were no sex differences in performance, sex differences in variability were maintained over 200 trials. These findings are discussed in light of previous work, and possible explanations for the mixed findings are advanced.