Self-estimates of distractibility as related to performance decrement on a task requiring sustained attention

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Abstract

Increasing automation of air traffic control tasks may have the undesirable side effect of increased monotony as a result of the anticipated reduction in task demands. Since individuals who are unable to sustain attention under low task-load conditions would appear to be more likely to commit errors and be less able to handle a sudden emergency situation, it would seem desirable to examine the characteristics of individuals unable to sustain attention under these conditions. In the present study, 50 subjects performed a monotonous, but perceptually demanding task, for approximately 30 minutes without rest. It was found that high-distractibility subjects (as determined from a questionnaire administered prior to the experiment) showed increasing lapses of attention during performance, while low-distractibility subjects failed to show any evidence of a decline in attention. Significant changes were obtained for respiration, respiration-period variability, heart-rate variability, and skin conductance during the task period, but the magnitude of these changes did not differ among the two distractibility groups. © 1973 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

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Thackray, R. I., Jones, K. N., & Touchstone, R. M. (1973). Self-estimates of distractibility as related to performance decrement on a task requiring sustained attention. Ergonomics, 16(2), 141–152. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140137308924490

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