Mental workload variations during different cognitive office tasks with social media interruptions.

Interruption at work by social media (SM) is a pervasive phenomenon. This study investigated the impact of SM interruptions and task cognitive levels on mental workload (MWL) and physiological indexes. Each subject performed six simulated computer tasks differentiated by two factors: task cognitive...

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Publicado en:Ergonomics Vol. 66; no. 5; pp. 592 - 609
Autores principales: Zahmat Doost, Elmira, Zhang, Wei
Formato: pictorial research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd May2023
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: May2023
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      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
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        10.1080/00140139.2022.2104381
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        atl: Mental workload variations during different cognitive office tasks with social media interruptions.
      aug:
        au:
          Zahmat Doost, Elmira
          Zhang, Wei
        affil: Department of Industrial Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
      sug:
        subj:
          Social Media Utilization
          Cognition Evaluation
          Workload Measurement
          Psychophysiology Evaluation
          Task Performance and Analysis
          Work Environment
          Occupational Health
          Funding Source
          Human
          Computer Simulation
          Comparative Studies
          Heart Rate
          Skin Physiology
          Analysis of Variance
      ab: Interruption at work by social media (SM) is a pervasive phenomenon. This study investigated the impact of SM interruptions and task cognitive levels on mental workload (MWL) and physiological indexes. Each subject performed six simulated computer tasks differentiated by two factors: task cognitive level and performing condition. MWL was reflected through three categories of data: perceived mental workload, physiological indexes, and primary task performance. The results revealed significant effects of SM interruptions on heart rate, low-frequency/high-frequency (LF/HF) ratio, and skin conductance. ANOVA results showed there were main effects of task cognitive level on LF/HF and skin conductance. These effects during interrupted tasks were more profound. In addition, participants experienced higher MWL and recorded lower primary task performance in the knowledge-based task than the rule- and skill-based tasks. Our findings can guide managers and employees regarding appropriate use of SM in the workplace and better managing interruption and workload. Practitioner Summary: Office workers suffer from increased overall mental workload due to unpredictable interruptions while working. This study shows that participants' mental workload increased when receiving SM interruptions, which was more profound during complex tasks. This highlights the importance of SM interruptions management for employees' health, performance, and mobile application developers. Abbreviations: ANOVA: analysis of variance; DSSQ: dundee stress state questionnaire; ECG: electrocardiographic; EDA: electrodermal activity; EEG: electroencephalographic; HPA: hypothalamus-pituitaryadrenocortical; HR: heart rate; HRV: heart rate variability; LF/HF: low frequency/high frequency; MSDs: musculoskeletal disorders; MWL: mental workload; NN: normal to normal; RMS: root means square; RR: time duration between two successive R peaks; RT: response time; SC: skin conductance; SDNN: standard deviation of normal to normal; SM: social media; TCL: task cognitive level; TPC: task performing condition; WMC: working memory capacity
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        pictorial
        research
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        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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