Effect of Perceived Proximity to End of Task upon End-Spurt

Abstract

2 experiments employing different types of tasks (vigilance and rotary pursuit tracking) were carried out to determine the relationship between S‘s perceived proximity to the end of the task and the occurrence of end-spurt (performance improvement as the end of a task is approached). In both experiments significant end-spurt occurred when Ss were led to believe that the task was 90% completed. This finding was difficult to explain since questionnaire data showed nothing unique about the meaning of “90%.” An arousal interpretation of the end-spurt phenomenon was offered but a distinction was made between end-spurt occurring in laboratory situations and industrial settings.