Research on Effects of Task Complexity on the Temporal Locus of Knowledge of Results

Adopted the single-dimension and two-dimension complicated computer, this study conducted the task complexity and explored the effects of the task complexity on the temporal locus of knowledge of results. 100 college students who pre- fer to use right hand were divided into two groups by random: simple task group and complex task group (each group was gender-balanced designed). During two days of acquisition, two groups performed the tracking task with feedback provided under the following conditions: (a) immediate KR, (b) 2s KR-delay, (c) 4s KR-delay, (d) 7s KR-delay, (e) 9s KR- delay. Retention tests of tracking accuracy in absence of KR were administered 10 min and 24 hours following acquisition. And the results showed that: 1) the effect of delayed KR on motor learning is dependent on the task complexity; 2) there is interaction between the task complexity and the optimum of KR-delay interval. When the subjects operate the complex task, the optimum of KR-delay interval tends to bring forward. Furthermore, the results indicated that providing immediate KR could enhance the development of subjective error-detection capabilities when the processing load is heavy (i.e. oper- ating the more complex task).