Studies of Component-Total Task Relations: Order of Component-Total Task Practice and Total Task Predictability

Abstract

The Complex Coordination Test was used to examine component-total task relationships when component tasks are practiced in different orders. Sixty subjects practiced (two trials of two minutes each) on six component tasks and on the total task, practicing these in various orders. Part-tasks were three single-level (one rudder and two stick control) tasks and three double-level (one stick-stick and two rudder-stick) tasks. Correlational analyses were performed to determine component-total task relationships and component to total task predictability. It was found that order of part-task practice affects total task proficiency. Also, part-task scores can be combined in a statistically independent manner to yield prediction scores on a more complex task only when a specific double-level task is combined with a specific single-level task. It was also found that observed and predicted total task scores agree better when double-level tasks are practiced before rather than after the total task. Finally, prior practice on double-level tasks led to better total task proficiency than did prior practice on single-level tasks.