FAST Psychomotor Coordination and Tracking

Question 1

In a compensatory tracking task, the operator must:

Accepted Answer

Continuously correct the error displayed as the distance between cursor and a fixed reference

Answer

Predict the future position of a moving target and move ahead of it

Answer

Match a moving target using only discrete button presses

Answer

Track a target that moves at fixed, predictable intervals

Question 2

Which factor most strongly predicts performance on a manual tracking task?

Accepted Answer

Reaction time and fine motor control

Answer

Long-term memory capacity

Answer

Verbal reasoning ability

Answer

Mathematical aptitude

Question 3

A tracking target drifts at an unpredictable rate. Compared to a predictable drift, performance will MOST likely:

Accepted Answer

Worsen because predictive correction is no longer possible

Answer

Improve because unpredictability increases alertness

Answer

Remain unchanged because tracking relies purely on reaction, not prediction

Answer

Improve because the operator is forced to use better technique

Question 4

A trainee's tracking score improves from 55% to 85% over ten practice sessions. The MOST likely explanation is:

Accepted Answer

Proceduralization — the task became partly automatic with practice

Answer

The task became progressively easier over time

Answer

The scoring algorithm changed between sessions

Answer

The trainee began ignoring error spikes to conserve effort

Question 5

Which type of tracking task is generally harder for novices?

Accepted Answer

Compensatory tracking (only error shown)

Answer

Pursuit tracking (target and cursor both visible)

Answer

Predictive tracking (target path pre-displayed)

Answer

Stationary tracking (target does not move)

Question 6

In a dual-task scenario, tracking accuracy is 90% with no secondary task, 70% with easy arithmetic, and 50% with hard arithmetic. This pattern BEST demonstrates:

Accepted Answer

Resource competition — harder arithmetic consumes more shared resources

Answer

Motor fatigue accumulating from the tracking task

Answer

The tracking task interfering with arithmetic processing

Answer

Arithmetic indirectly improving tracking through increased arousal