Effects of task load and cue validity on simultaneous sustained attention search task performance

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine the effect of task load on visual search sustained attention task performance. Cue works as a signal and may facilitate or deteriorate the performance. These effects depend on cue validity and its temporal properties. Present study used cue validity to observe the effect of cue on participant’s performance. Ninety participants were randomly assigned into different experimental conditions. A 2 (Task load: High and Low event rate) X3 (Cue validity: Valid, Invalid and Neutral) X4 (time block: 10 minutes each) mixed factorial design with repeated measure on the last two factors was used. Correct detection, incorrect detection and reaction time were recorded as performance measures to analyze sustained attention task performance. Results revealed that correct detection and perceptual sensitivity was higher under low task load condition in comparison to high task load condition. Moreover, response latency was found better under low task load condition than high task load. Ample evidences have proven that attentional tasks are resource demanding, when the temporal load of task increases it works as a catalyst to diminish our ability to perform on task. The present study holds promises to counter such decrement with the help of cue. © Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology.