Problem-solving performance with task overload: Effects of self-pacing and trait anxiety

Abstract

Ninety-two subjects solved a series of problems without enough time to finish and worked either at a pace and in an order determined by the experimenter (experimenter-paced) or at their own pace and order under self-administered time deadlines (self-paced). Self-pacing resulted in superior performance on rote and poorer performance on cognitive problems relative to experimenter-paced groups. Self-pacing had no effect on low-anxious subjects but increased performance for high-anxious subjects, and high-anxious subjects performed better on rote and poorer on cognitive problems relative to low-anxious subjects. Practical and theoretical implications were discussed. © 1977, The psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.