Effect of audio content on simple and repetitive tasks requiring eyesight: Focus on task performance and emotional responses

Abstract

Although video content includes many advantages over audio content in terms of information delivery, the latter is being continuously released into the market. Additionally, audio content is being consumed in repetitive daily work situations that require the continuous use of eyesight because such content transmits information by only using auditory stimuli. Therefore, this study examined how listening to audio content while performing simple repetitive tasks can affect the performance and perception of such tasks. Based on the findings, although the audio content type decreased the participants’ performance of the primary task, the difference was not statistically significant. Contrary to the effect on performance, the audio content lowered the fatigue and boredom of the primary task, while increasing satisfaction, enjoyment, and immersion. In particular, music, entertainment speech, and information speech had a significant effect on the participants’ work cognition, whereas autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) had no statistically significant effect.