Predicting battlefield vigilance: a multivariate approach to assessment of attentional resources

    Authors

    G. Matthews; J. S. Warm; T. H. Shaw;V. S. Finomore

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Ergonomics

    Keywords

    vigilance; attentional resources; cognitive ability; fatigue; stress; military performance; WORKING-MEMORY LOAD; INDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCES; SUSTAINED ATTENTION; TASK; ENGAGEMENT; SIGNAL SALIENCE; PERFORMANCE; STRESS; PERSONALITY; INTELLIGENCE; OPERATIONS; Engineering, Industrial; Ergonomics; Psychology, Applied; Psychology

    Abstract

    Technological innovation increasingly requires operators in various applied settings to maintain vigilance for extended periods. However, standard psychometric tests typically predict less than 10% of performance variance. The present study (N = 462) aimed to apply the resource theory of sustained attention to construct a multivariate test battery for predicting battlefield vigilance. The battery included cognitive ability tests, a high-workload short vigilance task and subjective measures of stress response. Four versions of a 60-min simulated military battlefield monitoring task were constructed to represent different operational requirements. The test battery predicted 24-44% of criterion variance, depending on task version, suggesting that it may identify vigilant operators in military and other applied contexts. A multiple-groups path analysis showed that relationships between ability and vigilance were moderated by working memory demands. Findings are consistent with a diffuse theoretical concept of 'resources' in which performance energisation depends on multiple, loosely coupled processes. Practitioner Summary: Assessment of operators' competence in vigilant monitoring is increasingly important as automation technology becomes more prevalent. This study investigated the validity of a battery of measures of attentional resources in predicting vigilance on a military display monitoring task. Findings confirm that the multivariate approach substantially enhances prediction over existing approaches.

    Journal Title

    Ergonomics

    Volume

    57

    Issue/Number

    6

    Publication Date

    1-1-2014

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    856

    Last Page

    875

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000337591800005

    ISSN

    0014-0139

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