Efectos de la complejidad de una tarea de localización de fallos sobre la carga mental subjetiva

  1. Rubio Valdehita, Susana
Journal:
Revista de psicología del trabajo y de las organizaciones = Journal of work and organizational psychology

ISSN: 1576-5962

Year of publication: 1993

Volume: 9

Issue: 25

Pages: 145-164

Type: Article

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More publications in: Revista de psicología del trabajo y de las organizaciones = Journal of work and organizational psychology

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of task complexity and cues on subjective workload response and performance using a fault location task. There were two between-subject factors: number of system elements (perceptual complexity) and cue extension (problem solving complexity). During the task the subjects tried to detect which one of the functional network components did not work properly. Three logic gates AND, OR and INVERSOR were used to represent the component function. Each one of the system elements included information in terms of symbols. Some subjects recived cues about the type and/or function of the component in which the failure was located. An instrument similar to TLX (Task Load Index) was used to assess subject's mental workload. The results suggest a dissociation between subjective workload measures and performance. The cue extension increment reduced performance time and number of test needed for problem solution. Perceptual complexity increased number of test needed. Performance success was largely determined by adopting an appropriate search heuristic.

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