Effects of Set-Size on Switch-Cost

Abstract: This study investigated how a set-size manipulation (as published in Fitzgibbon, Cragg & Carroll, 2014) could affect switch-cost in a switching-task, and the relation to working memory capacity. A student sample of 29 participants was recruited. Results revealed that decreasing the set-size might facilitate switching. Working memory capacity was negatively correlated with repeating a task (i. e., with not switching), when the set-size was large. The results are relevant to theoretical top-down and bottom-up explanations of switch-cost, and have practical implication for the further use of task-switching paradigms.