The ability to maintain vigilance in scanning the environment for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) can mean the difference between life and death for Soldiers. Although this ability to sustain attention varies among individuals, performance feedback training using knowledge of results (KR) has been found to improve performance. The present study builds on previous work on the influence of KR on vigilance training to investigate the efficacy of such training for improving upon performance and reducing workload and stress. Results indicated that the KR group achieved better vigilance performance than the No KR group and that the training benefits from KR persisted beyond the training phase. However, KR did not substantially affect perceived workload or stress response.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BeckerA.B.WarmJ.S.DemberW.N. (1994). Specific and nonspecific transfer effects in training for vigilance. In: MoulouaM.ParasuramanR. (Eds.), Human performance in automated systems: Current trends (pp. 294-299). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
2.
HartS. G.StavelandL. E. (1988) Development of NASA-TLX (Task Load Index): Results of empirical and theoretical research. In HancockP. A.MeshkatiN. (Eds.) Human Mental Workload. Amsterdam: North Holland Press.
3.
KlugerA.N.DeNisiA. (1996). The effects of feedback interventions on performance: A historical review, a meta-analysis, and a preliminary feed back intervention theory. Psychological Bulletin, 119, 254-284.
4.
MatthewsG.CampbellS. E.FalconerS.JoynerL. A.HugginsJ.GillilandK.66 GrierR.WarmJ. S. (2002). Fundamental dimensions of subjective state in performance settings: Task engagement, distress, and worry. Emotion, 2, 315-340.
5.
MatthewsG. (2001). Levels of transaction: A cognitive science framework for operator stress. In HancockP.A.DesmondP.A. (Eds.) Stress, workload, and fatigue. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
6.
MatthewsG.CampbellS. E.DesmondP. A.HugginsJ.FalconerS.JoynerA. (1999). Assessment of task-induced state change: Stress, fatigue and workload components. In ScerboM. (Ed.), Automation technology and human performance: Current research and trends (pp. 199-203) Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
7.
MatthewsG.JoynerL.GillilandK.CampbellS.E.HugginsJ.FalconerS. (1999). Validation of a comprehensive stress state questionnaire: Towards a state ‘Big Three’? In MervieldeI.DearyI.J.De FruytF.OstendorfF. (Eds.), Personality psychology in Europe, Vol. 7 (pp. 335-350). Tilburg: Tilburg University Press
8.
MatthewsG.CampbellS.E. (1998). Task-induced stress and individual differences in coping, Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 42, 821-825.
9.
MaxwellS. E.DelaneyH. D. (2004). Designing experiments and analyzing data: a model comparison perspective. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah, N.J., 2nd edition
10.
ParasuramanRHancockPA. Adaptive control of cental workload. In: HancockPADesmondPA editors. Stress, workload, and fatigue. 1st ed. Mahwah, NJ, USA: Erlbaum; 2001. p. 305–20
11.
SeeJ.E.HoweS.R.WarmJ.S.DemberW.N. (1995). A meta-analysis of the sensitivity decrement in vigilance. Psychological Bulletin, 117, 230-249.
12.
SzalmaJ.L.WarmJ.S.MatthewsG.DemberW.N.WeilerE.M.MeierA.EggemeierF.T. (1999) Sensory determinants of workload and stress in sustained attention. Proceedingsof the Human Factors Society, 43, 1289-1293
13.
SzalmaJ.L. (2006). Training for vigilance: the effect of knowledge of results format and dispositional optimism and pessimism on performance and stress. British Journal of Psychology, 97, 115–135.
14.
SzalmaJ. L. (2009). Individual differences in human–technology interaction: incorporating variation in human characteristics into human factors and ergonomics research and design. Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science, 10(5), 381–397. doi:10.1080/14639220902893613
15.
SzalmaJ. (2012). Individual Differenecs in Stress Fatigue and Perofrmance. In MatthewsG.DesmondP. A.NeubauerC.HancockP. A. (Eds). The Handbook of Operator Fatigue. Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate Publishing Limited.
16.
TeoG.SchmidtT.N.SzalmaJ.L.HancockG.M.HancockP.A. (2012) The Effect of Knowledge of Results for Training Vigilance in a Video Game-Based Environment. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 56, 1421-1425.
17.
VidulichMAWickensCD. (1986). Causes of dissociation between subjective workload measures and performance. Caveats for the use of subjective assessments. Applied Ergonomics, 17, 291–6.
18.
WarmJ.SDemberW.NHancockPA. (1996). Vigilance and workload in automated systems. In: ParasuramanRMoulouaM editors. Automation and human performance. Mahwah, NJ, USA: Erlbaum,. p. 183–200.
19.
WarmJ. S.ParasuramanR.MatthewsG. (2008). Vigilance requires hard mental work and is stressful. Human Factors, 50, 433-441.
20.
WarmJ.S.FinomoreV.ShawT.H.FunkeM.E.HausenM.J.MatthewsG.TaylorP.VidulichM.A.ReppergerD.W.SzalmaJ.L.HancockP.A. (2009). Effects of training with knowledge of results on diagnosticity in vigilance performance. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 53, 1066-1070.
21.
WarmJ.S.FinomoreV.ShawT.H.FunkeM.E.HausenM.J.MatthewsG.TaylorP.VidulichM.A.ReppergerD.W.SzalmaJ.L.HancockP.A. (2009). Effects of training with knowledge of results on diagnosticity in vigilance performance. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 53, 1066-1070.
22.
YehY.Y.WickensC.D. (1988). Dissociation of performance and subjective measures of workload. Human Factors, 30, 111–120.
