On-target versus off-target information and the acquisition of tracking skill.

Abstract

During training three experimental groups received augmented feedback (auditory clicks at the rate of two per sec.) when tracking accuracy was within (an on-target criterion) or outside (an off-target criterion) fixed tolerance limits. During transfer, no augmented feedback was provided. All three experimental groups were superior in tracking accuracy during training to a control group which did not receive augmented feedback. Of the three experimental groups, the group receiving augmented feedback when off-target was superior to a group which experienced clicks when on-target. It was superior also to a group which received clicks when off-target but differentially according to the direction of tracking error. During transfer both off-target groups remained superior in tracking accuracy to the control group, but the on-target group and the control group attained comparable performance. It follows that augmented feedback based on a simple off-target criterion was the most effective training condition. An analysis of the data suggested that this superiority was a result of the emphasis an off-target criterion places on occasional large tracking errors. The group trained on this condition apparently learned to reduce such errors more quickly and efficiently than did the on-target criterion group.