Inhibition in task switching: The reliability of the n-2 repetition cost

Grange, James A.

Abstract

The n-2 repetition cost seen in task switching is the effect of slower response times performing a recently completed task (e.g. an ABA sequence) compared to performing a task that was not recently completed (e.g. a CBA sequence). This cost is thought to reflect cognitive inhibition of task representations and has been well replicated (Koch, Gade, Schuch, & Philipp, 2010). As such, the n-2 repetition cost has started to be used as a measure of individual differences in inhibitory control (e.g. Whitmer & Banich, 2007); however, the reliability of this measure has not been investigated in a systematic manner. The current study addressed this important issue. Seventy-two participants performed three task switching paradigms; participants were also assessed on rumination traits and processing speed-measures of individual differences potentially modulating the n-2 repetition cost. We found significant n-2 repetition costs for each paradigm. However, split-half reliability tests revealed that this cost was not reliable at the individual-difference level. Neither rumination tendencies nor processing speed predicted this cost. We conclude that the n-2 repetition cost is not reliable as a measure of individual differences in inhibitory control.

Citation

Kowalczyk, A. W., & Grange, J. A. (2017). Inhibition in task switching: The reliability of the n-2 repetition cost. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 70(12), 2419-2433. https://doi.org/10.1080/17470218.2016.1239750

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 13, 2016
• Publication Date: 2017
• Publicly Available Date: May 26, 2023
• Journal: QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
• Print ISSN: 1747-0218
• Publisher: Routledge
• Volume: 70
• Issue: 12
• Pages: 2419-2433
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17470218.2016.1239750
• Keywords: task switching, n–2 repetition cost, backward inhibition, reliability,
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17470218.2016.1239750