Predicting battlefield vigilance: a multivariate approach to assessment of attentional resources

• Published in: Ergonomics 2014-06, Vol.57 (6), p.856-875
• Main Authors: Matthews, Gerald, Warm, Joel S., Shaw, Tyler H., Finomore, Victor S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Assessments; Attention; attentional resources; Battery; Battlefields; Biological and medical sciences; Cognition; cognitive ability; Computer Simulation; Ergonomics; Ergonomics. Human factors; fatigue; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Male; Memory, Short-Term; Military; military performance; Military personnel; Monitoring; Multivariate analysis; Occupational psychology; Operators; Predictive Value of Tests; Psychological Tests; Psychological Theory; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Simulation; Space life sciences; stress; Task Performance and Analysis; Tasks; Technological change; Variances; Vigilance; Warfare; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0014-0139; 1366-5847
• DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2014.899630

Technological innovation increasingly requires operators in various applied settings to maintain vigilance for extended periods. However, standard psychometric tests typically predict less than 10% of performance variance. The present study (N = 462) aimed to apply the resource theory of sustained attention to construct a multivariate test battery for predicting battlefield vigilance. The battery included cognitive ability tests, a high-workload short vigilance task and subjective measures of stress response. Four versions of a 60- min simulated military battlefield monitoring task were constructed to represent different operational requirements. The test battery predicted 24-44% of criterion variance, depending on task version, suggesting that it may identify vigilant operators in military and other applied contexts. A multiple-groups path analysis showed that relationships between ability and vigilance were moderated by working memory demands. Findings are consistent with a diffuse theoretical concept of 'resources' in which performance energisation depends on multiple, loosely coupled processes. Practitioner Summary: Assessment of operators' competence in vigilant monitoring is increasingly important as automation technology becomes more prevalent. This study investigated the validity of a battery of measures of attentional resources in predicting vigilance on a military display monitoring task. Findings confirm that the multivariate approach substantially enhances prediction over existing approaches.