Date of Award

Fall 1984

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

Program/Concentration

Psychology

Committee Director

Glynn D. Coates

Committee Member

Raymond H. Kirby

Committee Member

Louis Janda

Call Number for Print

Special Collections LD4331.P65 D52

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate age differences in tracking performance and in the amount of workload imposed by the tracking task. Twelve subjects between the ages of 18 and 22, and 12 subjects between the ages of 48 and 67 performed a serial, choice-reaction-time task alone and concurrently with a pursuit rotor tracking task. The choice reaction time task served as the secondary task and the pursuit rotor tracking task as the primary task. Primary task performance was measured by time on target and number of tracking errors, and the secondary task by choice reaction time and percent correct responses. Additionally, workload, as defined by Ogden et al. {1979) and Michon (1966) was evaluated as a function of age and tracking complexity. Results related to tracking performance revealed significant age and tracking complexity main effects, Results also showed that tracking complexity affected choice reaction time and that age affected percent correct responses. Significant tracking complexity and age main effects were revealed for the workload measure in choice reaction time. This suggests that the complexity of the tracking task affected the amount of workload, and that the tracking task imposed a greater workload on the older subjects. The implications of age differences in the amount of workload imposed on the subjects were discussed.

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In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

DOI

10.25777/d8qk-3139

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Psychology Commons

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