An Examination of the Relationship Between Mental Resources and Performance Strategies

Based on the work of Klapp, Marshburn, and Lester (1983) and more generally on principles of the Multiple Resource Theory, it was proposed that human short-term memory consists of two mental resource channels, one that is tapped by span memory tasks and one tapped by immediate working memory tasks. It was further hypothesized that dual-task performance would be better under conditions where one of the component tasks tapped the proposed span memory channel and one tapped the proposed working memory channel, than when both tasks tapped the same channel. In addition, it was hypothesized that dual-tasks tapping the same memory resource channel would reduce subjects' ability to adopt efficient attention management strategies, whereas tasks tapping separate channels would result in more efficient strategy selection. Mixed support was found for the proposed resource channel distinction, while considerable support was found for the proposed relationship between the channels tapped by dual-tasks and the selection of performance strategies.