Principal Investigator: mgr Michał Nowak
Funding Agency: National Science Centre
Program: PRELUDIUM
Awarded Sum: 196 192,00 PLN
1.Research project objectives
The aim of the project is to investigate the influence of the benefits of foregone tasks on the subjective sensation of cognitive effort and on the level of performance in cognitive control tasks. Inthe case of mosttasksthat require cognitive control, i.e.the ability to regulate and direct our own mental processes, the level of performance deteriorates with time while the subjective sensation of effort intensifies.Thus, we need to ask the question concerning the cause of such deficiency in such an important area. Up until now, the researchers focused on the resource approach, according to which the failures of control result from thegradual depletion of a limited pool of physical resources. An individual is not able to complete a task due to biologicallimitations –the invested resources do not replenish instantaneously.However, this approach was challenged by the results of empirical studies and new explanations were developed. Currently, the decision-making approach is the most promising one.It suggests, that the basis of cognitive control processes is the calculation of costs and benefits connected with a given activity.These calculations are not associated with physical resources.What matters here is the motivation to engage in a given activity.Researchers enumerate the so-called alternative costs(Kurzban et al.,2013) among the costs which are taken into account in the calculations.They are the inevitable consequence of choosing a given activity –once we decide to do it we abandon all other potentially beneficial routes of action and automatically lose theirbenefits.The aim of the planned studies is to determine whether the estimated level of the foregone benefits intensifiesthe subjective sensation of effort and leads to a decrease in performance of cognitive control tasks.
2.Research project methodology
The project will consist of three stages. Two studies will be carried out at each stage:acorrelational study and an experimental study. Each participant will take part in one correlational and one experimental study. In both studies the participants’ task will be to fill in a series of questionnaires and completea set of computer tasks. The participants will also have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the act of participating in a psychological studyduring the first correlational study. Thus, theywill be able to estimate the level of alternative costs for this type of situation.This is crucial from the perspectiveof the assumptions of Kurzban et al.’s model (2013). The correlational studies will also allow for the measurement of variables which wouldnot be assessedaccuratelyif they were used in the experimental study.The measurement of the subjective sensation of effortwould be especially sensitive to such interference.In the experimental studies we will empirically verifythe hypotheses derived from the alternative costs model (Kurzban et al., 2013), particularly those pertainingto1) the influence of the high level of opportunity costs on the decrease of task performance level and 2) theinfluence of the high level of opportunity costson the intensification of the subjective cognitive effort.At each stage we will use well-established computer tasks which engage cognitive control (e.g. Stroop task, n-back task, stop-signal task, go-no go task) and questionnaires measuring e.g. the individual preference for engaging in tasks requiring cognitiveeffort. In order to measure subjective cognitive effort we will use the Subjective Effort Scale.
3.Expected impact of the research project
The results of the studies will provide data which will allow for the comparison ofdecison-making models and resource models. Currently, this is the central issue for the area of cognitivecontrol research.Taking into account the potential of decision-making models and the resultsofstudieswhich were testing their assumptionsthe development of their empirical basis isdefinitely valuable.The studies of cognitive control and accompanying cognitive effort are also important forthe optimal performance in work or school environmentand are a significant factor in the development of disorders such asdepression,obsessive-compulsive disorder, ADHD or addiction. Thus, the results of the planned studies will help to better understand the mechanisms which determine the individual’s optimal functioningin many areas of life.