Ability requirements as a function of changes in the characteristics of an auditory signal identification task.

Examined the nature of changes in abilities contributing to individual differences in a criterion task (auditory signal identification) when 2 task characteristics (signal duration and signal-to-noise ratio) were systematically varied. 127 male college students performed under 9 different conditions on the criterion task (3-, 6-, or 9-sec signal durations, and -5 db, 0 db, and 5 db signal-to-noise ratios), as well as on a battery of 24 printed and auditory ability measures (e.g., Object-Number, Gestalt Completion, and Hidden Tunes tests). Variations in the 2 task characteristics were found to increase task difficulty. Of the 6 ability factors identified, one (Auditory Perceptual) predicted criterion task performance, and this prediction increased systematically as each manipulation increased the task's difficulty. It was possible to specify the task characteristics under which the ability was least critical and most critical to criterion performance. Implications of the results for linking ability requirements and task characteristics are discussed. (29 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)