Task Switching between Face Categorizations: An Advance Preparation Effect
This study examined how advance preparation modulates our ability to switch between face categorizations. The study included three switching experiments with different pairs of facial categorization tasks. In experiment 1, subjects switched between gender and occupation categorizations. Results showed a larger switch cost for the occupation task. In experiment 2, participants categorized emotion and gender categorizations. Results yielded a larger switch cost for the gender task. In experiment 3, subjects performed emotion and occupation categorization task. There was a larger switch cost for the occupation task. The overall results of experiments indicated that harder task yielded a larger switch cost than the easier task. Moreover, these switch costs can be reduced with sufficient preparation time. This study is the first investigation into advance preparation effect during switching between tasks of social significance. We discuss why asymmetries reduce with an advance preparation during face categorization tasks.
