Strategy influences directional control–response compatibility: evidence from an underground coal mine shuttle car simulation.

This paper examines the influence which participants’ task strategy has on directional control–response compatibility. Two experiments are reported in which participants were grouped according to the strategies they reported using while driving a simulated analogy of an underground coal mine shuttle car. In Experiment 1, compatibility effects were found for participants who reported adopting the wheel-referenced instruction. No reaction time compatibility effects were observed for participants who adopted a rule-based strategy for all trials. Participants were given rule-based instruction in Experiment 2. Seven participants followed the instruction, and no reaction time compatibility effect was observed. However, 15 participants reported adopting a wheel-referenced strategy during ‘compatible’ trials, and directional compatibility effects were found. In summary, regardless of the instructions provided during experimental situations, individuals may identify action features which they consider helpful in achieving the task goal, and these different strategies influence directional control–response compatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]