The Effect Of Spatial And Temporal Task Characteristics On Performance, Workload, And Stress

The present study examined the Maximal Adaptability Model of Stress (Hancock & Wann, 1989) by investigating how the task characteristics of information rate (event rate) and information structure (display uncertainty) affect performance on a cognitively demanding signal detection task. Performance as well as perceived workload and stress were measured. Results supported a performance-workload association rather than performance insensitivity, but the pattern of decline in adaptation to task-induced stress generally conformed to the maximal adaptability model: At lower levels of demand the change in accuracy and workload was smaller, but at higher demand these changes increased in magnitude. Copyright 2010 by Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Inc. All rights reserved