Training specificity and transfer in time and distance estimation

Abstract

Learning is often specific to the conditions of training, making it important to identify which aspects of the testing environment are crucial to be matched in the training environment. In the present study, we examined training specificity in time and distance estimation tasks that differed only in the focus of processing (FOP). External spatial cues were provided for the distance estimation task and for the time estimation task in one condition, but not in another. The presence of a concurrent alphabet secondary task was manipulated during training and testing in all estimation conditions in Experiment 1. For distance as well as for time estimation in both conditions, training of the primary estimation task was found to be specific to the presence of the secondary task. In Experiments 2 and 3, we examined transfer between one estimation task and another, with no secondary task in either case. When all conditions were equal aside from the FOP instructions, including the presence of external spatial cues, Experiment 2 showed "transfer" between tasks, suggesting that training might not be specific to the FOP. When the external spatial cues were removed from the time estimation task, Experiment 3 showed no transfer between time and distance estimations, suggesting that external task cues influenced the procedures used in the estimation tasks.

The Cognitive Mechanism of the Practice Effect of Time-Based Prospective Memory: The Role of Time Estimation

“…Overall, we trained the time estimation task in the training stage of Experiment 2. The results showed significant improvement in participants’ time estimation abilities, consistent with previous studies related to time estimation (Panagiotidi and Samartzi, 2013; Healy et al, 2015). Further, the TBPM testing stage revealed that TBPM performance could also improve by time estimation training, supporting our prediction.…”

“…In addition, repeated training for a specific TBPM task can also be regarded as training for a time estimation task to some degree. At present, some studies found that training for specific time intervals could significantly improve the accuracy of time estimation (Panagiotidi and Samartzi, 2013; Healy et al, 2015), as was consistent with DAT. Based on the above evidence and theoretical speculations, training for TBPM tasks likely increases time estimation accuracy, improving TBPM performance to some extent.…”

“…Therefore, repetitive TBPM training could be regarded as repetitive time estimation training to some extent. Existing studies showed significantly improved time estimation ability following short-term training for estimating specific time intervals (Healy et al, 2015). In addition, some long-trained athletes had better timing ability in their own sports items (Chen et al, 2014; Vicario et al, 2017), which also indirectly proved our viewpoint.…”

The Practice Effect on Time-Based Prospective Memory: The Influences of Ongoing Task Difficulty and Delay

“…During the 30 TBPM task exercises, participants performed the same number of time estimation training attempts. The ability of time estimation became more precise after many training attempts, and the difference between subjective time and objective time was became shorter (Bliss et al, 2012; Panagiotidi and Samartzi, 2013; Healy et al, 2015). When executing the TBPM tasks, participants usually relied on the ability of time estimation to monitor time to ensure that they could perform the prospective memory task accurately.…”

Reply to Letter to the Editor: I Spy With My Little Clinician's Eye

“…Distance perception accuracy has shown to increase with training. 5 - 7 That may explain why the more experienced observers (more years of orthopaedic knee practice, therefore more knowledge and application of different standard methods for evaluating patellar height) achieved a higher sensitivity in the CE. After considering these observations, it is our belief that the CE works as a screening tool for the diagnosis of PA, which somehow integrates previous knowledge and gives the observer an estimation of the patellar height.…”