Keywords

Electromyography, Goal (Psychology), Mental work, Work -- Psychological aspects

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of differing goal strategies on subjective and physiological indices of workload across time. The sample consisted of 16 males and 24 females from undergraduate psychology classes at the University of Central Florida. Subjects were assigned to four goal conditions: time/accuracy, time, accuracy, and no goal, and asked to perform a computer-based decision making task comparing visual and semantic information. A trial consisted of a 15-minute baseline and three 5-minute task periods. Dependent variables included electromyopotential (EMG) measured in microvolts and a paper and pencil workload scale utilizing a Likert-type format and measuring three dimensions: general psychological stress (GPS) load, mental effort load, and time load. Results indicated that assigned goal strategy had no effect of the workload indices. Analyses of variance and trend analyses, however, revealed them EMG and mental effort load both increased from baseline to talk period 1 then decreased across time. This relationship was just the reverse for GPS load. In addition, time load decreased across time in a significant linear fashion. Zero-order correlational analyses were also performed using all dependent variables. EMG and time load were inversely related during task periods 1 and 2 whereas mental effort and GPS load were related only during task period 1. Results are discussed with reference to future research methodology in the area of workload assessment.

Notes

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Graduation Date

1985

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Turnage, Janet J.

Degree

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree Program

Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Format

PDF

Language

English

Rights

Public Domain

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

Identifier

DP0016483

Accessibility Status

Searchable text

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