Task Components and Demands as Factors in Dual-Task Performance.
Abstract
This study explored the effects of interference between tasks as related to their specific functional requirements and under changing priorities. Four tasks were performed singly and in all pairwise combinations to compare their mutual interference levels. The tasks were one-dimensional compensatory tracking, and three self-paced Keyboard response tasks, one requiring a transformation by categorizing, one requiring storing and responding with the previous stimulus, and one requiring no intervening activity between stimulus recognition and response. Tracking paired with any of the the three Keyboard tasks was least interfering, Tracking and Tracking was moderately interfering, and Keyboard/Keyboard combinations the most interfering, suggesting that qualitatively dissimilar tasks are performed better than functionally similar tasks. The Keyboard task requiring continuous storing and response to the previous stimulus was highly disruptive when paired with other Keyboard tasks, and showed little evidence of interweaving with them, while the transformation Keyboard task was not as disruptive and could be interweaved with itself or the simple Keyboard task.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA038634
Entities
People
- Robert Arthur North
Organizations
- University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign