Evidence for a group-level performance optimum and performance-neutral adaptation in a procedural task

Abstract

ABSTRACT We asked whether people performing different versions of a procedural task would adapt to the differences and achieve similarly high levels of performance. In Experiment 1 (N = 479), participants either did or did not receive a mnemonic for the sequence of procedural steps. Both groups had unlimited access to a help function giving the sequence. No-mnemonic participants used help more than did mnemonic-provided participants but performed similarly, suggesting that no-mnemonic participants adapted to lack of the mnemonic. In Experiment 2 (N = 538), access to help was either limited or unlimited. Limited-help participants used help less than did unlimited-help participants but again performed similarly, suggesting that limited-help participants adapted to the limit. The results are evidence for (a) a group-level performance optimum implicit in task environment and task performer characteristics, and not specified by an environmental payoff function; and (b) adaptive processes that people deploy to achieve this optimum.