Adaptive Performance, Cognitive Ability and the Moderating Effect of Task Characteristics

Abstract

An adaptive individual can be characterized as an individual who displays a general propensity to perform well in complex environments that are often unpredictable and ambiguous (Schunn & Reder, 2001). Lang and Bliese (2009) propose a framework that allows the researcher to look at the unique effects of adaptive performance, relative to overall performance. The authors used a discontinuous growth model to partition performance in to four major performance components, namely basal task performance, skill acquisition, transition adaptation and reacquisition adaptation. This proposal focuses on basic cognitive processes and how they relate to each performance component. Simple reaction time and perceptual and processing speed predicted significant differences in basal task performance and skill acquisition. Faster reaction time and higher perceptual and processing speed led to higher scores for basal task performance and skill acquisition. Cognitive flexibility predicted significant differences in transition adaptation, whereby individuals higher in cognitive flexibility had more errors on the adaptive performance task after the task unexpectedly changed, relative to individuals low in cognitive flexibility. No significant predictors of reacquisition adaptation were found. It was also hypothesized that differences in task complexity would moderate the relationship between cognitive ability and performance. However, no significant moderating effect was found.