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You do not need to cite this lab manual for your introduction for this lab report.
Key Concept of the Laboratory»
For your laboratory, discuss the information processing stages from chapter 2. Make sure
to discuss what occurs during each stage fully.
Statement of the Purpose
The purpose of this laboratory experiment is to evaluate the effect of stimulus complexity
and preview on the central processing time required for performance ofa simple motor
task.
Writing your Hypothesis
In your hypothesis statement, which task will require the most central processing time?
The least? Explain why you think this.
Materials
0 Standard deck ofplaying cards
0 Stopwatch
0 Calculator t
Procedure
1. Subject sits comfortably in a chair adjacent to a table or desk.
2. Subject thoroughly shuffles a deck of 52 playing cards.
3. Subject holds the cards face down in the non-dominant hand.
4. Using the dominant hand, subject turns cards over one-at-a-time, placing them face-
up in one pile, as quickly as possible. Two trials are taken.
5. The score is the time in seconds to complete the task. Round to two decimal points. i
6. Subject repeats steps 2 and 3.
7. Using the dominant hand, subject turns cards over one-at-a-time, and sorts them by
color, placing them in two piles (red and black), as quickly as possible. Two trials
are taken.
8. The score is equal to time in seconds to complete the color-sort task.
9. Subject repeats steps 2 and 3.
10. Using the dominant hand, subject turns cards over one-at-a-time, and sorts them by
suit, placing them in four piles, one for each suit, as quickly as possible. Two trials
are taken.
11. The score is equal to time in seconds to complete the suit-sort task.
12. Subject repeats step 2.
13. Subject holds deck face up in non-dominant hand.
Central Processing Time
14. Using the dominant hand, subject sorts cards by color, placing them face down into
two piles, red and black, as quickly as possible. Two trials are taken.
15. Score = time in seconds for complete the color-sort with preview task.
Results
1. Note that your individual data sheet has four columns labeled Single Pile, Color
Sort, Suit Sort, and Color Sort with Preview.
2. Record the score for each ofthe 8 trials, in seconds, in the appropriate column.
3. Calculate the mean score for the two trials of each ofthe four tasks.
4. Calculate the processing time for the 3 sorting tasks using the formula below.
For example:
P _ T_ _ Mean for Task 2, 3, or 4 – Mean for Task 1
mcessmg lme – Mean for Task 2, 3, or 4
5. Enter the mean processing time for each of the three tasks in the appropriate
column on the class data sheet.
6. Generate a computer bar graph that demonstrates the mean processing time across
the three tasks, showing both your scores and the class scores.
Individual Data Sheet S
Task II Task III Task IV
-‘H-
Mean Y i ,_ P, _ g 7 p
(Trial 1 & Trial 2) 2% *1‘
Processing – -1. E 2/ ‘ T _. r
Discussion
1. Using class data compare the mean processing time across the 3 sorting tasks.
Which task required the longest processing time? The shortest processing time?
2. The complexity of a motor task is determined by the amount of information that
must be processed. Thus, complexity depends upon the number of possible stimuli,
number of response choices, and length of the movement sequence. Describe the
differences in the complexity of the 3 tasks, in terms of their specific information
processing requirements. Was there a relationship between task complexity and
central processing time? Explain your answers. Make sure to refer to the
information processing stages in your answer.
3. Explain the differences in processing time for Color Sort and Color Sort with
Preview. Discuss the roles of the information processing stages and anticipation
when discussing the role of preview on processing time.
Lab Format
A lab report consists of the following sections: (1) title page, (2) introduction, [3] methods,
(4) results, (5) discussion, and (6) reference page. Your lab reports should be typed,
double-spaced, size 12 font, in Times New Roman OR Calibri font. All lab reports should be
submitted through BlackBoard, on time. For each day lab reports are late, you will lose 20
points.
Read the description of each of the sections required for your lab reports:
2. Title Page
a. Your title page should consist ofthe following:
i. The title of the lab
ii. Your name
iii. Your lab partner’s name
iv. The date
3. Introduction
a. In your introduction, you should include the following:
i. A brief description ofthe key concept ofthe lab, citing information
from the textbook, lab manual and/ or outside source
ii. A statement of the purpose ofthe lab – write this in your OWN words.
You must paraphrase.
iii. A hypothesis ofwhat you would expect to happen in the lab, based on
the question from each lab assignment.
b. You are required to cite the following sources when writing your
‘introduction. If you do NOT cite, it is considered plagiarism and you will
receive a zero for the assignment!
i. Your textbook
ii. Your lab manual
iii. An outside peer-reviewed journal article
4. Methods
a. Description of the methods used to complete the study.
b. Make sure to discuss the participants, methods, and procedures.
i. When describing the participants, provide your own demographics
(e.g., gender, height, weight, and age).
ii. Do not refer you “yourself” during the lab report. You must refer to
the roles and either the “subject[s)” or the “experimenter.”
c. You may NOT copy from the lab assignment. You must paraphrase and write
the methods in your own words.
