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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate age differences in the amount of workload imposed by a tracking task. Twelve subjects between the ages of 18 and 22, and 12 subjects between the ages of 48 and 67 performed a serial, choice-reaction-time task alone and concurrently with a pursuit rotor tracking task. Workload, as defined by Ogden et al. (1979) and Michon (1966) was evaluated as a function of age and tracking complexity. Significant tracking complexity and age main effects were revealed for the workload measure in choice reaction time. This suggests that the complexity of the tracking task affected the amount of workload, and that the tracking task imposed a greater workload on the older subjects. The implications of age difference in the amount of workload imposed on the subjects were discussed.

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Age and the Measurement of Workload by a Secondary Task

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