@article{ref1,
title="Divergent response-time patterns in vigilance decrement tasks",
journal="Journal of experimental psychology: human perception and performance",
year="2020",
author="Rubinstein, Joshua S.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="Performance on tasks tends to change with time-on-task, usually for the worse. Two seemingly contradictory patterns of behavior are reported for these &quot;vigilance decrements.&quot; Over the past 70 years, the more common vigilance decrement involves a decrease in signal detection associated with an increase in response times. In contrast, search tasks such as industrial inspection or X-ray screening produce vigilance decrements that involve a decrease in signal detection associated with a decrease in response times. Subjects respond faster with increasing time-on-task. Three experiments reported here were designed to explain these contrasting performance patterns. The results rule out task-type (search vs. nonsearch detection) and whether trials were paced versus unpaced by the computer as causes of these divergent response-time patterns. Instead, response structure-how subjects respond to the presence and absence of the critical signal-is the primary cause of this phenomenon. These results do not support traditional resource-depletion or under-stimulation theories of the vigilance decrement. Instead, I propose a dynamic-allocation resource theory in which the attention system uses various tactics to strategically disengage from tasks that provide low payoff across time-on-task. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0096-1523",
doi="10.1037/xhp0000813",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/xhp0000813"
}