This dissertation describes an examination into the relationship between task properties (cue weights, correlation between cues, and manner of display) and cognitive mode of the subjects undertaking a judgment task. Previous research had demonstrated weak support for the hypothesis that judgment performance could be improved if cognitive mode matched task properties. This research devised new metrics for measuring task properties and cognitive mode, and demonstrated better support for the hypothesis than previous attempts.

Three tasks concerning judgment of student abilities were devised and presented to teachers in a middle school setting using two different methods of display. The cognitive mode of the teachers was captured based upon factors the teachers used (such as their cue utilization weights, self insight and differential confidence). A comparison was made with previously used metrics to determine the degree of support for Hammond's Cognitive Continuum Theory (CCT).

The previously used metrics were the Task Continuum Index and Cognitive Continuum Index (TCI/CCI), previously described by Hammond et al. (Hammond et al., 1987) and Dunwoody et al. (Dunwoody et al., 2000). Two alternate metrics (indices) representing task properties and cognitive mode were developed by the author, extending work done by Stewart (Stewart, 2001). These indices employed the matrix product of the cue intercorrelations matrix with the cue validity weights for task properties and the cue utilization weights for cognitive mode.

The alternate metrics provided support for Cognitive Continuum Theory by showing, as predicted, (1) a significant relationship between task properties and cognitive mode, and (2) improved task performance when there was close correspondence between the task properties and the cognitive mode. In contrast, the TCI/CCI metric created by Dunwoody et al. did not demonstrate support for CCT in either of these two ways. Support for CCT was not found in the method of display to the subjects, which is consistent with earlier research but not as predicted by CCT. The empirical results demonstrate that judgment performance can be improved when task properties and cognitive mode are considered in tandem, a key feature to cognitive systems engineering.