EFFECT OF COMPLEXITY OF A PHYSICAL TASK ON ESTIMATION OF TIME TO COMPLETE

Two studies were performed to examine the effect of the complexity of a physical task on the estimation of the time required for its perform ance. Different paradigms for the estimation of time (prospective vs r etrospective) were used with different methods of estimation (reproduc tion vs verbal estimation). In Study 1, 32 pairs of adults were asked to throw a ball to each other in different ways. The two groups were d istinguished by the motor and cognitive changes required in moving fro m one task to the next. One group had to perform 10 successive repetit ions on each of five kinds of ball throws, while the other had to perf orm the same number of ball throws but with each type being split into two different successive sets of throws so here the task consisted of changes. In Study 2, 60 children (aged 7 or 8 yr.) were asked to per form a set of basketball tasks. The two groups were distinguished by t he pace at which they had to perform the task, slowly or rapidly. The results of the two studies indicated a negative relation between the c omplexity of the task and the group's estimation of time. The reproduc tive method yielded shorter estimations than the verbal method. The re sults indicate that for physical activity the attentional model may we ll be valid.