“You're wrong, I'll switch, I'm wrong, I'll stay”: How task-switching strategies are modulated by a partner in a multi-task learning protocol

Abstract

Individuals given control over practice variables make practice decisions based on their current performance. When individuals practice in pairs, the question as to if and how a partner's performance impacts these decisions is of theoretical and practical interest. Here, we evaluated this question in a multi-task learning protocol, where individuals and dyads practiced three, differently timed keystroke sequences. Dyad participants alternated turns with a partner so we could study the immediate consequences of the partner's performance on practice choice. Only one of the partners had choice over the sequence order, the other partner practiced the sequences in either a predetermined blocked or random order. Practice with a partner that had a random-schedule promoted more task-switching in the other partner and had some benefit for retention accuracy. Distinct “own-error” and “partner-error” switching strategies were evidenced, with partners choosing to repeat the same sequence on their next turn when they performed poorly or when their partner performed well. These data show that an individual's practice decisions are influenced by their social context, particularly the practice schedule and patterns of errors in a partner's performance.