Exploring Sex Differences in Vigilance Performance with Knowledge of Results

Vigilance, also referred to as sustained attention, is the ability to maintain attention for extended periods of time while monitoring for, oftentimes, critical signals. In attempt to aid performance decrements in vigilance tasks, previous research has examined the effects of knowledge of results (KR). In essence, KR provides feedback on performance, and is argued to enhance the understanding of task structure and motivation to complete the task successfully. However, relatively little is known about how individual differences, such as observer sex, influence KR effects in vigilance. In the present study, 73 observers completed a 25-minute vigilance task in which they were required to monitor flight paths. Observers were randomly assigned to either a KR condition, in which feedback was given for correct detections, false alarms, and misses, or a control condition, where no feedback was provided. The results indicated that small sex differences were found for correct detections and false alarms, as a function of KR.

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Individual Differences in Achievement Motivation are related to Vigilance Performance

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/1541931213601807 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 61 (1) ◽

pp. 1298-1302

Author(s):

Alexis R. Neigel ◽

Yu Miao ◽

Nicole Montagna ◽

Cristina A. Chirino ◽

James L. Szalma

Keyword(s):

Individual Differences ◽

Individual Difference ◽

Achievement Motivation ◽

Sustained Attention ◽

Vigilance Task ◽

False Alarms ◽

Vigilance Performance ◽

Human Motivation ◽

Attention Tasks ◽

Attention Performance

Vigilance, or sustained attention, tasks require observers to attend to information over a prolonged period of time. One individual difference that may be associated with sustained attention performance is achievement motivation, given recent findings in the literature that indicate a relationship between human motivation and attention. Fifty-nine participants were randomly assigned to either a cognitive or sensory vigilance task. The present study indicated that individuals high in achievement motivation detected more critical signals and made fewer false alarms in the cognitive vigilance task. Participants high in achievement motivation in the cognitive condition also demonstrated some of the highest distress and worry scores post-task. Implications for sustained attention tasks are discussed.

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Performance in Vigilance Tasks is Related to Both State and Contextual Motivation

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/1541931213601268 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 60 (1) ◽

pp. 1145-1149 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Alexis R. Dewar ◽

Nicholas W. Fraulini ◽

Victoria L. Claypoole ◽

James L. Szalma

Keyword(s):

Intrinsic Motivation ◽

Sustained Attention ◽

Vigilance Task ◽

False Alarms ◽

Time On Task ◽

Vigilance Decrement ◽

Vigilance Performance ◽

Task Instructions ◽

State Motivation

Vigilance, or sustained attention, is the ability to maintain attention to stimuli over a prolonged period of time. Synonymous with the study of sustained attention is the vigilance decrement, which is a decline in performance as a function of time on task. In the present study, we examined the effects of state motivation (i.e., motivation measured immediately prior to the task) and context-based motivation (i.e., motivation that stems from task instructions) on vigilance performance in a sensory-based vigilance task. Forty-three participants completed a 24-minute vigilance task, as well as measures of stress and workload. The results indicated that those higher in state intrinsic motivation and motivating instructions outperformed their peers in terms of hits and false alarms. We conclude that motivation may help facilitate vigilant attention.

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Effect of Hashish on Vigilance Performance

Perceptual and Motor Skills ◽

10.2466/pms.1994.78.1.11 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 78 (1) ◽

pp. 11-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Toufik Bahri ◽

Taha Amir

Keyword(s):

Adverse Effects ◽

Sustained Attention ◽

Task Analysis ◽

Vigilance Task ◽

False Alarms ◽

Vigilance Performance

A group of 11 hashish users were compared with 11 controls on a visual sustained attention (vigilance) task. Analysis indicated that hashish use affected subjects' sensitivity. Subjects who used hashish responded in an indiscriminate manner, making more false alarms (8.7) than controls (2.6). The importance of vigilance in the assessment of adverse effects of hashish is discussed.

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Sex Differences in the Stress and Workload of Lexical Vigilance

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/1541931218621171 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 62 (1) ◽

pp. 752-756

Author(s):

Alexis R. Neigel ◽

Victoria L. Claypoole ◽

Daryn A. Dever ◽

Nicholas W. Fraulini ◽

Gabriella M. Hancock ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Sex Differences ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Sustained Attention ◽

Semantic Information ◽

Vigilance Task ◽

Multiple Measures ◽

Decision Making Criteria

Lexical vigilance requires sustained attention to lexical, verbal, and semantic information over a prolonged period of time. The perceived stress and workload that typically accompany the performance of these tasks remains relatively unknown. Thus, in the present study 213 observers were assigned to either a standard lexical vigilance task or a ‘lure’ vigilance task, which required additional decision-making criteria. The results were analyzed for sex differences between the conditions and across multiple measures of perceived stress and workload. These analyses indicated that women and men perceive the stress and workload associated with lexical vigilance tasks differently. More specifically, women reported greater post-task distress and more temporal demand associated with the task than men. Interestingly, men reported the task being more physically demanding than women. The implications of these results are discussed further.

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Effects of Aircraft Noise on Vigilance Performance and Perceived Workload

Proceedings of the Human Factors Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/154193129203601832 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 36 (18) ◽

pp. 1513-1517 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ami B. Becker ◽

Joel S. Warm ◽

William N. Dember ◽

JoAnn Sparnall ◽

Laura DeRonde

Keyword(s):

Vigilance Task ◽

Aircraft Noise ◽

Maximum Intensity ◽

Perceptual Sensitivity ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Vigilance Performance ◽

Knowledge Of Results ◽

Perceived Workload ◽

Signal Detectability ◽

The Right

This study examined the effects of exposure to intermittent jet aircraft noise played through stereophonic speakers (70dBA or 95dBA maximum intensity) on performance efficiency and perceived workload in a 40-min visual vigilance task. The noise featured a Doppler-like quality in which planes seemed to approach from the monitor's left and recede to the right. Performance in noise, measured in terms of perceptual sensitivity (d***'), was significantly poorer than in a quiet condition. Moreover, in comparison to subjects performing in quiet, those who operated in noise were less able to profit from knowledge of results (KR) regarding performance efficiency. In addition to its negative effects upon signal detectability, noise significantly elevated perceived workload, as indexed by the NASA-TLX. This effect was robust; it was not mitigated by KR, even though KR served generally to reduce the overall level of perceived workload in the study. The consistency of the effects of noise in regard to both performance efficiency and perceived workload challenges a recent conclusion offered by Koelega and Brinkman (1986) that lawful relations are not observable in studies of the effects of noise on vigilant behavior.

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Task-Specific Sex Differences in Vigilance Performance: Subjective Workload and Boredom

Perceptual and Motor Skills ◽

10.2466/pms.1997.85.3f.1195 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 85 (3_suppl) ◽

pp. 1195-1202 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Lawrence J. Prinzel ◽

Frederick G. Freeman

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Vigilance Task ◽

Vigilance Performance ◽

Task Load ◽

Subjective Workload ◽

Nasa Task Load Index

Participants (24 men, 24 women) were asked to perform either a spatial or temporal vigilance task. Task-related Boredom and NASA-Task Load Index scores were collected. The results replicate Dittmar, Warm, Dember, and Ricks' 1993 finding of task-specific sex differences in vigilance performance and subjective workload. The present study also showed task-specific sex differences for boredom ratings. These results suggest that two explanations may account for the sex differences. More accurate perceptual discriminations may account for some of the differences in performance; however, sex differences in perceived boredom may more likely be responsible for the task-specific sex differences in vigilance performance and subjective workload.

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Effects of Visual and Auditory Knowledge of Results and Reward on Vigilance Performance

Perceptual and Motor Skills ◽

10.2466/pms.1974.38.3.831 ◽

1974 ◽

Vol 38 (3) ◽

pp. 831-836

Author(s):

Marvin E. Grunzke ◽

Roger E. Kirk ◽

Steven C. Fischer

Keyword(s):

Vigilance Task ◽

Probability Of Detection ◽

Monetary Reward ◽

Treatment Combination ◽

Vigilance Performance ◽

Knowledge Of Results ◽

Contingent Reward ◽

Independent Variables ◽

Visual Knowledge ◽

And Performance

The effects of several procedures for providing knowledge of results (KR) and monetary reward on performance of a visual vigilance task were investigated. 72 Ss monitored a simulated CRT for 3 hr. The independent variables were visual KR versus no visual KR, auditory KR versus no auditory KR, and performance-contingent monetary reward versus noncontingent monetary reward. Probability of detection was significantly higher for the knowledge of results conditions and for performance-contingent reward than for the respective control conditions. The most effective treatment combination was visual knowledge of results combined with performance-contingent reward.

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Sex Differences in Lexical Vigilance Performance

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/1541931218621166 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 62 (1) ◽

pp. 731-735 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alexis R. Neigel ◽

Daryn A. Dever ◽

Victoria L. Claypoole ◽

Nicholas W. Fraulini ◽

Gabriella M. Hancock ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Signal Detection ◽

Response Bias ◽

Inverse Relationship ◽

Empirical Investigation ◽

Vigilance Task ◽

Vigilance Performance ◽

Lexical Semantic ◽

Standard Task

Lexical vigilance is the ability to sustain attention to lexical, semantic, and language-related stimuli, such as words or symbols, for extended periods of time. One gap in the empirical investigation of lexical vigilance is the assessment of sex differences in the performance of these tasks. In the present study, a sample of 213 observers completed a 12-minute lexical vigilance task. Observers were randomly assigned to either a standard task, which required individuals to respond to critical signals and withhold response to neutral events, or a lure task, which required individuals to respond to critical signals while withholding response to neutral events and lures (i.e., stimuli that are categorically similar in nature to critical signals). The results indicated that women and men perform the lure and standard tasks differently depending upon the condition to which they are assigned. Specifically, an inverse relationship was observed between the sexes and conditions in signal detection indices of sensitivity and response bias. We discuss the implications of these results below.

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Multiple Monitors and Knowledge of Results in Vigilance: The Decrement Still Wins

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/154193129604002316 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 40 (23) ◽

pp. 1222-1226 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Peter J. Ceplenski ◽

Mark W. Scerbo ◽

Debra A. Major

Keyword(s):

Signal Detection ◽

False Alarms ◽

Vigilance Decrement ◽

Vigilance Performance ◽

Knowledge Of Results ◽

Attention Tasks ◽

The Social ◽

Absolute Judgement ◽

Multiple Monitors ◽

Practical Implications

Research has demonstrated that knowledge of results (KR) can improve vigilance performance and that certain types of KR can even eliminate the vigilance decrement. Likewise, researchers have shown that having a number of operators perform a vigil in a multiple-monitor setting can also increase performance on sustained attention tasks. The present study was conducted to determine if using KR in a multiple-monitor setting would eliminate the vigilance decrement and improve performance as measured by signal detection indices. Subjects completed an absolute judgement task either in pairs or individually and received KR to hits, false alarms, misses, or no KR. The results indicated that even KR in a multiple-monitor paradigm was not sufficient to combat the vigilance decrement. Characteristics of the task, the social interaction between monitors, the use of signal detection indices, and the practical implications of the findings are discussed.

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An Adaptive Vigilance Task with Knowledge of Results

Human Factors The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society ◽

10.1177/001872087401600401 ◽

1974 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 333-338 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Earl L. Wiener

Keyword(s):

Detection Rate ◽

Adaptive Strategies ◽

Vigilance Task ◽

Performance Measure ◽

The Other ◽

False Alarms ◽

Past Performance ◽

Knowledge Of Results ◽

Computer Controlled ◽

Traditional Performance

Four groups of subjects performed a 48-min, computer-controlled, visual watch-keeping task. Two groups were run under fixed, non-adaptive conditions, one with immediate knowledge of results (KR) and the other without (NKR). The KR group showed the usual superiority in detection rate over the NKR group, and made fewer commissive errors (false alarms). Two other groups, also KR and NKR, ran under adaptive conditions, wherein the size of the signals they watched for was adjusted during the vigil according to past performance, so as to maintain a preset detection rate. The resulting curves for the adaptive variable closely resembled the traditional performance measure, detection rate. Various adaptive strategies are discussed.

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