par Bertelson, Paul 
;Joffe, Rachel
Référence Ergonomics, 6, 2, page (109-116)
Publication Publié, 1963-04
;Joffe, Rachel Référence Ergonomics, 6, 2, page (109-116)
Publication Publié, 1963-04
Article révisé par les pairs
| Résumé : | The data from a former experiment with a serial responding task were analysed to throw light on some issues connected with the ‘ blocking ’ phenomenon. The task consisted of pushing one of four keys in response to the appearance of four figures on a numerical indicator. It was self-paced. Thirty-five subjects worked on it uninterruptedly for 30 min. It is shown that: 1. The main change which occurs in the distribution of reaction times during the session is the appearance of a tail of long times: this is in agreement with the blocking hypothesis, i.e. with the hypothesis that an extra delay is sometimes added to the normal reaction time. 2. The increase in number of long reaction times takes place in the first five minutes of work. 3. Long reaction times are preceded by an increase in mean reaction time and in percentage of errors, which take place over four or five preceding responses, and are followed by a return of both variables to normal level; this is in agreement with the hypothesis that blocks allow fatigue to dissipate. © 1963, Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved. |
