Speed-Accuracy Tradeoffs in Spatial Orientation Information Processing

Abstract

A study was conducted to further evaluate the Manikin Task, a test of spatial orientation information processing. The objectives of the study were to determine the speed vs. accuracy tradeoff characteristics of the task and to assess performance on the task under the influence of ethyl alcohol. Response times and accuracy were measured on five subjects over a five-week period. Analysis of the data indicated a definite decline in accuracy corresponding to a forced decrease in response time. The effect of alcohol was evidenced by a change in the slope of the speed-accuracy tradeoff function.