Effect of Localized Temperature Change on Vigilance Performance
Institution: | Wright State University |
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Department: | Human Factors and Industrial/Organizational Psychology MS |
Degree: | MS |
Year: | 2015 |
Keywords: | Behavioral Psychology; Cognitive Psychology; Climate Change; Experimental Psychology; Personality Psychology; Physiological Psychology; Psychobiology; Psychology; vigilance; temperature; stressor appraisals; challenge; threat |
Record ID: | 2059069 |
Full text PDF: | http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1429286666 |
This study examined the influence of localized temperature change on vigilance performance. Additionally, the effect of stressor appraisals on the relationship between localized temperature change and vigilance performance was investigated. A total of 36 male and female participants between the ages of 18 and 45 completed a stressor appraisal scale before completing a 40-minute simulated air traffic control vigilance task. Depending on the condition, either a hot, cold, or neutral temperature change was induced using a thermoelectric pad and blanket 20 minutes into the vigilance task. Although localized temperature change did not have a significant effect on vigilance performance 25-30 minutes into the task, those who were randomly assigned to the cold condition did experience a significant reduction in their vigilance decrement over time when compared to the neutral condition. Participants were classified as challenged or threatened, depending on their task appraisals. A marginally significant main effect of stressor appraisals on vigilance performance was observed. Challenged individuals appeared to perform better over time than threatened individuals. Although a moderating effect was not observed, these results suggest that individually both localized temperature change and stressor appraisals tend to influence vigilance performance over time.