Challenges to the mindlessness model of vigilance through signal regularity

Helton, William S.; Hollander, Todd D.; Warm, Joel S.; Matthews, Gerald; Dember, William N.; Wallaart, Matthew; Beauchamp, Gerald; Parasuraman, Raja

doi:10.1037/e576942012-017

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…There are however, some examples of vigilance tasks in which decreases in hit rates over time have been accompanied by changes in the false alarm rate. For example, Helton et al (2003) found a small increase in false alarm rate in one of two experimental conditions in which decreases in hits were observed (see also Helton et al, 2005). On the other hand, Tiwari, Singh, and Singh (2009) found that decreases in the hit rate over time were accompanied by a decrease in false alarm rates.…”

Section: The Evidence For Sensitivity Declines In Vigilance Tasksmentioning

confidence: 96%

A critical examination of the evidence for sensitivity loss in modern vigilance tasks.

Thomson

Besner

Smilek

2016

Psychological Review

145

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It is well known that when human observers must monitor for rare but critical events, probability of detection tends to wane over time, a phenomenon known as the "vigilance decrement." Over 60 years of empirical study on this topic has culminated in the general consensus that performance suffers due to a loss in observers' ability to distinguish signal from noise (a loss in sensitivity) provided that the task loads memory and stimuli are presented at a relatively high rate. We challenge this assertion on 2 fronts: First, we contend on a theoretical level that the metrics employed to measure observer sensitivity in modern vigilance tasks (derived from signal detection theory) are inappropriate and largely uninterpretable. This contention is supported by an evaluation of recent empirical work in the vigilance domain. Second, we present the results of an experiment that demonstrates that shifts in response bias (the observer's "willingness to respond") over time can masquerade as a loss in sensitivity. Consequently, the basic underlying cause of the vigilance decrement is actually unclear, and may simply reflect a shift in response criterion rather than sensitivity. The theoretical, as well as practical implications of these conclusions are discussed with respect to sustained attention in general, and vigilance in particular.

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Section: The Evidence For Sensitivity Declines In Vigilance Tasksmentioning

confidence: 96%

A critical examination of the evidence for sensitivity loss in modern vigilance tasks.

Thomson

Besner

Smilek

2016

Psychological Review

145

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Although the DSSQ is a reliable measure of the three higher-order dimensions of subjective stress state, and has been employed effectively in a number of recent studies investigating the subjective stress of demanding tasks (Grier et al, in press;Helton et al, 1999Helton et al, , 2002Helton et al, , 2003Szalma et al, in press;Temple et al, 2000), it has a serious limitation, its length. The most recent version of the DSSQ contains 90-items.…”

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confidence: 99%

Validation of a Short Stress State Questionnaire

Helton

2004

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual

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Stress is an important aspect of operational settings. This article presents two studies providing initial psychometric and validation evidence of a short multidimensional self-report measure of stress state, the Short Stress State Questionnaire (SSSQ) based on the Dundee Stress State Questionnaire (DSSQ; Matthews et al., 1999Matthews et al., , 2002. The first study involved the construction and exploration of the factor structure of the SSSQ using data pooled from three samples. These factor analyses differentiated three aspects of subjective stress similar to the DSSQ: Task Engagement, Distress, and Worry. The second study aimed at providing validity information on the SSSQ in regards to its sensitivity to task-stressors. Different task conditions elicited unique patterns of stress state on the three factors of the SSSQ in line with predictions. The 24-item SSSQ appears to be a useful measure of stress state based on the substantially longer DSSQ from which it was derived.

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“…Sustained attention or vigilance concerns the ability of observers to detect brief and unpredictable signals over time (Davies & Parasuraman, 1982;Helton et al, 2002Helton et al, , 2003Helton et al, , 2004Warm, 1993). This aspect of human performance is of particular interest to Human Factors specialists because of the critical role that it occupies in many operational settings, especially in automated human-machine systems (Warm, 1993).…”

Section: Sustained Attentionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Canine Factors: Bridging the Gap between Human Factors and Comparative Psychology

Helton

2005

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual

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Working dogs have proven to be highly accurate and flexible extensions of our human senses. These trained dogs are increasingly employed in a multitude of occupational roles. The study of these highly trained working dogs bridges the gap between Human Factors and Comparative Psychology and offers many points of potentially fruitful exchange. The present paper presents two examples of issues where Human Factors and Comparative Psychologists share a common interest: expertise development and sustained attention. Dogs are, perhaps, unique among nonhuman animals in their adaptation to human culture and are amazingly flexible, often serving as human surrogates. Many issues discussed and investigated in the Human Factors literature are also relevant to the study of working canines and the study of working canines may enhance the Human Factors literature.

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Challenges to the mindlessness model of vigilance through signal regularity

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

A critical examination of the evidence for sensitivity loss in modern vigilance tasks.

A critical examination of the evidence for sensitivity loss in modern vigilance tasks.

Validation of a Short Stress State Questionnaire

Canine Factors: Bridging the Gap between Human Factors and Comparative Psychology

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