The speed-accuracy transition due to task complexity

The transition of speed into accuracy was investigated by studying different degrees of transformation. A task requiring different numbers of simple exchanges indicating different degrees of complexity was designed for this purpose. The correlations between accuracy, represented by the numbers of correct responses, and ability scores indicated that accuracy is associated with cognitive ability to a greater extent in complex tasks, as compared to simple tasks. Mental speed, represented by the reaction time observed for the most simple task demand, correlated with accuracy in the more complex demands. A reduction of the correlations between accuracy and cognitive abilities was observed due to the removal of mental speed. The percentage of reduction in common variance varied between 30% and 40% for the highest degree of complexity.