A method for describing time-monitoring strategies in a prospective memorysetting

Citation
J. Costermans et D. Desmette, A method for describing time-monitoring strategies in a prospective memorysetting, CAH PSYCHOL, 18(3), 1999, pp. 289-306
Citations number
28
Categorie Soggetti
Psycology
Journal title
CAHIERS DE PSYCHOLOGIE COGNITIVE-CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY OF COGNITION
ISSN journal
02499185 → ACNP
Volume
18
Issue
3
Year of publication
1999
Pages
289 - 306
Database
ISI
SICI code
0249-9185(199906)18:3<289:AMFDTS>2.0.ZU;2-4
Abstract
Participants were asked to view a film, and at the same time, to perform a series of interfering actions at the end of several successive period durat ions (d). Any delays in executing the required actions were measured, but t he main focus was the distribution of time checks over each of the periods. Two small groups, whose mean ages were 22 and 66 years, took part in the s tudy. The overall time-monitoring strategy was found to conform to the foll owing relation: c = 2 exp (t-i)/s, where c was the rank of a time check, an d t the total time elapsed thus far. According to this function, after some initial waiting time (i), the checks occurred at gradually narrower time i ntervals, each check taking place after a constant proportion s/(d-i) of th e time left. While most participants in both groups followed this rule, som e of them exhibited stronger or weaker forms of the strategy, i.e., forms w here the rate of time checking increased either faster or more slowly than the standard function predicts. The weaker forms tended to result in poorer prospective recall performance, but no major differences were found betwee n the age groups.