Gender effects on cognitive offloading with reminder use Pandey Prachi1,*, Singh Tara2,** 1Research Scholar in Psychology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India 2Prof. of Psychology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India *Corresponding Author Email: prachi.tiwari@bhu.ac.in
**tarasingh.bu@gmail.com
Online published on 28 March, 2024. Abstract Cognitive offloading refers to use of physical action to reduce cognitive processing demand of a given task. When performing a cognitive activity, one has the choice of unloading mental processes or finishing it on one's own. Every time we engage in a cognitive task, we have just two choices to make. For instance, while reading something, one can either mentally summarize it or write it down in a copy, both of which are cognitive tools. The primary focus of this research is the likely motivations for using cognitive tools, whether individuals exhibit a systematic bias towards them or not. The present study was conducted on a sample of 74 volunteers (15 females and 59 males) to examine gender differences in reminder bias in which participants had to decide between memorizing the target position to get the most reward points (10 points for each accurate target) or using a reminder to earn the lowest reward points, which ranged from 1 to 9. Additionally, there were two forced-internal and forced-external conditions. By computing optimal and actual indifference points, data were analyzed. Actual indifference points were calculated by observing behavior on choice conditions, while optimal indifference points were determined by forced conditions. We also discovered a systematic bias in favor of reminder use in the findings, but there was no discernible gender effect on reminder use. Findings have been discussed in the light of available empirical studies on cognitive offloading with reminder use. Top Keywords Cognitive offloading, Cognitive effort, Optimality, Reminder use. Top |