Performance is not Related to Perception of Target Width in Fitts’ Law

Howard N. Zelaznik^*, Roxanne Croxall^* and Jake Vanhooser^*

^* Purdue University, USA
E-mail: hnzelaz@purdue.edu, rcroxall@purdue.edu, javanhoo@purdue.edu

Abstract

We report a new experiment in a series of studies in which research participants perform a Fitts’ Law repetitive task, and then are required to judge the width of the target that was utilized. The first two experiments previously reported showed no relation between perception and performance. However in those two experiments subjects were never provided with feedback on their performance. In the current study, we provided participants with their performance score. Providing their performance score did not produce a relation between target width perception and performance. We posit that sports studies that have shown this relation are the results of intimate knowledge of what it means to perform well. Our inexperienced Fitts’ Law participants lacked such an understanding.