Examining the Convergent and Discriminant Validity of Visual and Mental Workload Using Ocular Activity Variables

Abstract

The Mental Workload construct is examined along with Visual Workload in order to discriminate the relationship between the converging constructs. Six ocular activity variables were measured in order to test their diagnostic and sensitivity properties with regards to Visual and Mental Workload in a UH-60M upgrade simulated flight test. Three pilot crews flew six flight scenarios in which subjective and physiological mental workload measures were implemented across Task Difficulty and Task Differences (pilot on-controls versus pilot off-controls). Results indicate less subjective mental workload for the Hover task compared to the Action on Contact task and greater fixation duration variability for the lower difficulty task. Blink interval was greater for the pilot on-controls and saccadic extent was greater for the pilot off-controls. Results suggest that blink interval and saccadic extent are diagnostic of different aspects of visual workload, whereas fixation duration variability is sensitive to mental workload.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2010
Accession Number
AD1013150

Entities

People

  • Michael S. Jessee

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Cognition
  • Cognitive Workload
  • Computer Vision
  • Control Systems
  • Data Displays
  • Human Factors Engineering
  • Human-Machine Interaction
  • Information Processing
  • Instrument Panels
  • Psychology
  • Psychophysiology
  • Task Performance And Analysis
  • Test And Evaluation

Fields of Study

  • Psychology

Readers

  • Aviation Science / Aeronautics.
  • Psychological Intervention/Treatment for Stress, Anxiety, PTSD, and Related Emotional and Cognitive Health Symptoms.
  • Vision Science/Vision Psychology/Cognitive Neuroscience.