The effect of microcomputer presentation and response medium on digit span performance

✍ Scribed by J. Graham Beaumont

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1985
• Weight: 508 KB
• Volume: 22
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0020-7373
• DOI: 10.1016/s0020-7373(85)80074-2

✦ Synopsis

A digit span task of short-term recall was presented by microcomputer with various response devices in two experiments. In the first, subjects responded by the standard keyboard, by a keypad or by a light-pen. Performance was best with the standard keyboard, and worst with the light-pen. In the second experiment a touch-sensitive screen was also studied. The keyboard was again found to be associated with the best performance. However, it was also shown that the automated form produced significantly poorer digit spans than conventional auditory-verbal administration, and that this was due both to the use of computer-based response devices and the presentation of material in the visual rather than the auditory modality. Implications of the results for the automation of psychological tests are discussed.