Continuing Research in Job Performance Aids: The Interaction of Speed Stress and Media

Abstract

Twenty-seven male subjects were separated into one of four experimental groups and performed a series of five tasks using either an all-print JPA or an all-pictorial JPA. The task series was performed under both a speed stress condition and a non-stress condition. Subjects who completed the task series while referencing an all-pictorial JPA worked faster under speed stress (70 sec) than without speed stress (98 sec). Performance of the same task series with an all-print JPA was unaffected by stress. Accuracy of response decreased in both the print-stress and pictorial-stress conditions when compared to their respective non-stress conditions. The only differences between performances with print and pictorial JPAs occurred in the stress conditions. Results were compared to past research and related to the impact on JPA designers.

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