Higher Task Performance Research Articles

Collaborative programming problem-solving in augmented reality: Multimodal analysis of effectiveness and group collaboration

Although numerous studies have demonstrated different ways that augmented reality (AR) can assist students to understand the learning content via contextualised visualisation, less explored is its effect on collaborative problem-solving (CPS) in computer programming. This study aims to investigate how AR affects a CPS in a programming task. We designed a mobile app that could visualise computer programming in AR and non-AR 3D images. The app could involve two participants working together on a programming problem face to face in the same workspace. We conducted a within-subjects experiment to compare their AR experience to the non-AR experience and collected multimodal usage data about the task performance, verbal communication, and user experience. The analysis showed that the participants in the AR experience had higher task performance and more insightful communication than the non-AR. The participants also had positive attitudes toward the use of AR in classroom instructions. In a semi-structured interview, the participants reflected that AR helped them engage in the content and analyse the task easier. Based on this study, we discuss several challenges and implications for future instruction designers. Implications for practice or policy: AR can improve student engagement in a collaborative problem-solving task. AR has the potential to promote and improve group communication in collaborative work. Instruction designers may need to carefully align the characteristics of AR with the task content especially when physical models are rarely used in the learning content.

Crossed effects of audio-visual environment on indoor soundscape perception for pleasant open-plan office environments

An open-plan office (OPO) layout promotes communication and teamwork among workers and provides flexibility in working; however, it also adversely affects work satisfaction, health, and worker privacy, leading to dissatisfaction and poor task performance. In this study, the subjective responses in an audio-visual OPO environment were analyzed to investigate the effects of the environment on indoor soundscape perception for designing pleasant OPOs. The outdoor environments of four OPOs with four different visual layouts were divided based on two conditions with different window views (good and bad views) to model eight visual stimuli. The auditory aspect was evaluated by computer simulation using three sound sources. For subjective assessment, virtual reality technology was employed with 24 audio-visual stimuli, and thirty-four subjects were asked to rate the perceived affective quality and overall quality. Task performance was quantified using auditory digit span tasks. The spatial preference decreased with the Loud, Variable, and Reverberant attributes and increased with the Bright, Orderly, and Wide attributes. For the same OPO soundscape, the window area ratio and floor area showed positive correlations with visual privacy, visual satisfaction, speech privacy, and sound satisfaction. However, work satisfaction and task performance exhibited contradictory relationships with the visual parameters. Furthermore, wide, open workspaces yielded high work satisfaction, whereas narrow, confined work spaces yielded high task performance. These results indicate that the relationship between work satisfaction and task performance must be considered for a balanced OPO design, providing practical guidance for designing pleasant OPO environments.

Analysis of Endogenous Spectral Power of EEG Alpha-Range Biopotentials during Mnestic Activity under Conditions of Rhythmically Organized Optical Stimulation.

We studied the effect of optical stimulation (10 Hz) on the effectiveness of mnestic activity in the n-back task in healthy subjects (n=32). EEG was recorded at all stages of the examination. The absolute values of the spectral power of the 10 Hz frequency (μV2) of the alpha range were calculated. According to the results of the test without optical stimulation, the examinees were divided into groups with high (group 1) and low (group 2) task performance. In the initial state, the spectral power of 10 Hz was significantly higher in group 1 subjects. Under conditions of screen flickering, the results became poorer in group 1 and better in group 2 in comparison with the results under normal conditions. These changes were accompanied by an increase in the spectral power of 10 Hz only in group 2 subjects. These findings can provide the basis for the development of practical recommendations for improving the mnestic functions in patients with consideration for the individual characteristics of their initial EEG.

Task Performance: Report on the Study of Social and Emotional Skills of Chinese Adolescents (I)

Task Performance is greatly significant in the field of education. The OECD defines Task Performance as the ability to function based on conscientiousness in the “Big Five” personality domains. People with high Task Performance tend to also have significant conscientiousness. In other words, they are more self-controlled, more responsible, and more persistent. As a result, they focus well on tasks and earn better grades. Task Performance includes self-control, responsibility, and perseverance.

Enhanced or impoverished recruitment of top-down attentional control of inhibition in test anxiety

Controversy exists as to whether high test anxiety (HTA) individuals, when completing an inhibition task, increase or decrease top-down attentional control resources to maintain high task performance. In a flanker task experiment, individuals were confronted with a threat or no threat context in combination with a low or a high working memory load. The N2 measured top-down attentional control resource allocation. The results showed that, in comparison to low test anxiety (LTA) individuals, HTA individuals had larger N2 amplitudes in a no threat condition, especially for incongruent trials. Also, in a threat condition when under high working memory load, HTA individuals had smaller incongruent N2 amplitudes. These findings support the conclusion that HTA individuals tend to enhance recruitment of top-down attentional control of inhibition. Additionally, they may also fail to compensate for impaired inhibition as indicated by impoverished top-down attentional control resources when demands on attentional control are high.

Impact of COVID-19 social media news on employee behavior: the mediating role of psychological well-being and depression

PurposeThe study's objective is to examine the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) social media news (SMN) on work boredom (WB) and task performance (TP). The study proposes that psychological well-being (PWB) and depression mediate the relationship between COVID-19 SMN, WB and TP.Design/methodology/approachThe data for this research was collected from white-collar employees of two Asian countries, Pakistan (study 1, n = 167) and Malaysia (study 2, n = 118), was collected using an online survey during strict movement control order (MCO), work from home, at the beginning of the year 2020.FindingsIn both studies, the PWB of employees mediated the relationship between COVID-19 SMN and their WB. On the other hand, depression only mediated the relationship between COVID-19 SMN and WB in Pakistan. PWB only mediated the relationship between COVID-19 SMN and TP in study 2. Depression only mediated the relationship between COVID-19 SMN and TP in study 1.Research limitations/implicationsA couple of limitations worth noting are that the study adopted a cross-sectional approach. Thus, the sample size is not large in both counties. Because of the outbreak, limited employees agree to be part of an online survey. The scope of the study also restricts the authors to collect data during MCO, when employees were forced to work from home. In Pakistan, MCO began on 20th March and ended on 30th April, while in Malaysia, MCO started on 18th March and ended on 12th May. This also limits the study's claim of generalizability.Practical implicationsThe practical implication of the study is to guide practitioners of both Pakistan and Malaysia in developing strategies that help them understand that employees having PWB look for growth and challenging opportunities even during pandemic situations; employers can leverage it to deal with external threats like COVID-19 because improving the PWB can improve TP and reduce WB. The interesting results highlighted the fact that high TP not necessarily means everything is fine with employees, when the uncertainty level is high, employees may be performing well due to fear and depression instead of work motivation. Thus, employers should be more vigilant during a pandemic situation. This study also helps policymakers understand that the overall economic situation affects the individual employee’s state of mind and work behavior.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to scare literature on COVID-19 and SMN and illustrates employees' work behavior when forced to work from home during the MCO.

Semi-Automated Control System for Reaching Movements in EMG Shoulder Disarticulation Prosthesis Based on Mixed Reality Device.

Goal: The development of a control system for an electromyographic shoulder disarticulation (EMG-SD) prosthesis to rapidly achieve a task with a reduction in the operational failure of the user. Methods: The motion planning of an EMG-SD prosthesis was automated using measured visual information through a mixed reality device. The detection of an object to be grasped and motion execution depended on the EMG of the user, which gives voluntary controllability and makes the system semi-automated. Two evaluation experiments with reaching and reach-to-grasp movements were conducted to compare the performance of the conventional system when operated using only visual feedback control of the user. Results: The proposed system can more rapidly and accurately achieve reaching movements (32% faster) and more accurate (69%) reach-to-grasp movements than a conventional system. Conclusions: The proposed control system achieves a high task performance with a reduction in the operational failure of an EMG-SD prosthesis user.

Adapting the values affirmation intervention to a multi-stereotype threat framework for female students in STEM

We examined if an adapted version of a brief social psychological intervention following a multi-threat framework can enhance the mental task performance of female college students under stereotype threat. In experiment 1, under self-as-target stereotype threat, as expected, students who were exposed to the self-affirmation intervention had the highest task performance. However, under group-as-target stereotype threat, we found similar performances of the students in both the self-affirmation and group-affirmation conditions compared to control condition. In experiment 2, we showed that the extent a female student is identified with her gender group moderates the effectiveness of the group-affirmation intervention. The current research encourages researchers to consider different understandings of self while instituting common stereotype threat interventions rather than taking a uniform approach.

Cultural Intelligence and Language Competence: Synergistic Effects on Avoidance, Task Performance, and Voice Behaviors in Multicultural Teams

Avoidance of culturally diverse peers undermines the benefits of multicultural teams. Using uncertainty reduction theory, we argue that team members’ cultural intelligence (CQ; the capability to work effectively in culturally diverse settings) and language competence (the ability to communicate in a language) exert main and synergistic effects on avoidance behaviors. We further propose that avoidance negatively predicts individuals’ task performance (behaviors that contribute to team outcomes) and voice behaviors (giving suggestions to improve the status quo). Put together, we test a moderated mediation model where the mediating role of avoidance between CQ and outcomes of task performance and voice behaviors is moderated by language competence. Our results, based on data collected from multicultural team members at three time points, showed no main effects of CQ and language competence on avoidance. Instead, we found synergistic effects such that CQ was negatively related to avoidance only when language competence was high. Avoidance was negatively related to peer‐rated task performance and voice behaviors. Conditional process analyses supported our moderated mediation hypothesis, suggesting that avoidance explains why people with higher CQ and higher language competence have higher task performance and voice behaviors.

Alterations in surface EMG during gait in children with Fragile X Syndrome

This study aimed to characterize the biomechanical stresses in the neck and shoulder, self-reported discomfort, and usability by different target distance or size during augmented reality (AR) interactions. In a repeated-measures laboratory-based study, 20 participants (10 males) performed three standardized AR tasks (3-dimensional (3-D) cube, omni-directional pointing, and web-browsing tasks) with three target distances (0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 m from each participant denoted by near, middle, far targets) for the 3-D cube and omni-directional pointing tasks or three target sizes: small (30% smaller than default), medium (default: 1.0 × 1.1 m), and large (30% larger than default) for the web-browsing task. Joint angle, joint moment, muscle activity, self-reported discomfort and comfort in the neck and shoulders; and subjective usability ratings were measured. The results showed that shoulder angle (flexion and abduction), shoulder moment (flexion), middle deltoid muscle activity significantly increased as the target distance increased during the 3-D cube task (p's < 0.001). Self-reported neck and shoulder discomfort significantly increased after completing each task (p's < 0.001). The participants preferred the near to middle distance (0.3–0.6 m) or the medium to large window size due to task easiness (p's < 0.005). The highest task performance (speed) was occurred at the near distance or the large window size during the 3-D cube and web-browsing tasks (p's < 0.001). The results indicate that AR interactions with the far target distance (close to maximum reach envelop) may increase the risk for musculoskeletal discomfort in the shoulder regions. Given the increased usability and task performance, the near to middle distance (less than 0.6 m) or the medium to large window size (greater than 1.0 × 1.1 m) would be recommended for AR interactions.

Amplitude versus spatially modulated electrotactile feedback for myoelectric control of two degrees of freedom

Objective. Artificial proprioceptive feedback from a myoelectric prosthesis is an important aspect in enhancing embodiment and user satisfaction, possibly lowering the demand for visual attention while controlling a prosthesis in everyday tasks. Contemporary myoelectric prostheses are advanced mechatronic systems with multiple degrees of freedom, and therefore, to communicate the prosthesis state, the feedback interface needs to transmit several variables simultaneously. In the present study, two different configurations for conveying proprioceptive information of wrist rotation and hand aperture through multichannel electrotactile stimulation were developed and evaluated during online myoelectric control. Approach. Myoelectric recordings were acquired from the dominant forearm and electrotactile stimulation was delivered on the non-dominant forearm using a compact interface. The first feedback configuration, which was based on spatial coding, transmitted the information using a moving tactile stimulus, whereas the second, amplitude-based configuration conveyed the position via sensation intensity. Thirteen able-bodied subjects used pattern classification-based myoelectric control with both feedback configurations to accomplish a target-reaching task. Main results. High task performance (completion rate > 90%) was observed for both configurations, with no significant difference in completion rate, time to reach the target, distance error and path efficiency, respectively. Significance. Overall, the results demonstrated that both feedback configurations allowed subjects to perceive and interpret two feedback variables delivered simultaneously, despite using a compact stimulation interface. This is an encouraging result for the prospect of communicating the full state of a multifunctional hand prosthesis.

Evaluation of the biomechanical stress in the neck and shoulders during augmented reality interactions

This study aimed to characterize the biomechanical stresses in the neck and shoulder, self-reported discomfort, and usability by different target distance or size during augmented reality (AR) interactions. In a repeated-measures laboratory-based study, 20 participants (10 males) performed three standardized AR tasks (3-dimensional (3-D) cube, omni-directional pointing, and web-browsing tasks) with three target distances (0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 m from each participant denoted by near, middle, far targets) for the 3-D cube and omni-directional pointing tasks or three target sizes: small (30% smaller than default), medium (default: 1.0 × 1.1 m), and large (30% larger than default) for the web-browsing task. Joint angle, joint moment, muscle activity, self-reported discomfort and comfort in the neck and shoulders; and subjective usability ratings were measured. The results showed that shoulder angle (flexion and abduction), shoulder moment (flexion), middle deltoid muscle activity significantly increased as the target distance increased during the 3-D cube task (p's < 0.001). Self-reported neck and shoulder discomfort significantly increased after completing each task (p's < 0.001). The participants preferred the near to middle distance (0.3–0.6 m) or the medium to large window size due to task easiness (p's < 0.005). The highest task performance (speed) was occurred at the near distance or the large window size during the 3-D cube and web-browsing tasks (p's < 0.001). The results indicate that AR interactions with the far target distance (close to maximum reach envelop) may increase the risk for musculoskeletal discomfort in the shoulder regions. Given the increased usability and task performance, the near to middle distance (less than 0.6 m) or the medium to large window size (greater than 1.0 × 1.1 m) would be recommended for AR interactions.

What is the significance of the traditional pinching mode of holding chopsticks?

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to clarify the influence of manipulation mode of chopsticks on the learning process, using assessment of task performance and electromyography, and to understand the significance of the traditional manipulation mode from the viewpoint of physiological anthropology. Previous studies have described two modes of manipulating chopsticks, the traditional pincers-pinching mode and the scissors-pinching mode.MethodsWe conducted experiments with two conditions of holding chopsticks: scissors mode and pincers mode. Eight subjects participated and were assigned to these modes, and they learned handling tasks in their assigned mode for 5 days with the non-dominant hand. We measured task execution times and conducted electromyography of the following muscles: first dorsalis interosseus, flexor pollicis brevis, flexor digiti minimi brevis, flexor digitorum superficialis, and extensor digitorum.ResultsThe training effects were found in each mode. The pincers mode showed significantly shorter task performance times than did scissors mode. On electromyography, significant increases in activity of flexor digiti minimi brevis and tended an increase in flexor digitorum superficialis and a decrease in extensor digitorum occurred in pincers mode but not in scissors mode.ConclusionsThe traditional mode of holding chopsticks was associated with not only high task performance but also an advantage in terms of learning motor control.

The dynamics of motivation, emotion, and task performance in simulated achievement situations

This study aimed to examine associations between motivation, emotion, and task performance in simulated achievement situations. A group of sixth grade students (n = 190) completed an achievement task. Situational information on task value, success expectations, emotions, effort, task performance, and causal attributions was collected and information on subsequent academic achievement was obtained from school registers. The results showed, first, that high task value, high expectancy of success, and high positive emotions before a task contributed to a higher level of effort during the task. This, in turn, was related to better task performance. Second, high expectancy of success predicted increased positive emotions during the task, and these in turn, were related to better task performance. Conversely, high negative emotions during the task were related to poorer task performance. Third, high task performance was related to higher levels of effort, higher attributions of success to ability, and increased positive emotions after the task. Finally, both high task performance and attributions of success to ability were related to better subsequent academic achievement.

Socio-demographic and maternal health indicators of inhibitory control in preschool age children: evidence from Growing Up in New Zealand

Inhibitory control is central to developmental trajectories of cognitive, emotional and social functioning in children. Here, inhibitory control was measured using the Luria hand clap task (an adapted version of the Luria pencil tap task). A sample of 5,448 children age 4½ years and their mothers from a longitudinal, population-based New Zealand cohort were included in this study. Antenatal maternal health indictors, child characteristics and performance on the Luria hand clap task were assessed using multivariate ordinal logistic regression. Seven covariates, including mother’s ethnicity and education, and child’s gender, age and birthweight were included. Based on Luria task performance scores that approximated the 25th and 50th percentiles, children were categorised into three groups (low, intermediate, high). High Luria task performance was associated with maternal relationship status, maternal education, first trimester folate supplementation, maternal BMI and smoking before pregnancy. In addition, children born heavier, and female, and older children were more likely to be in the top Luria score category relative to children born smaller, male and younger. A number of potentially modifiable maternal factors significantly predict Luria task performance in children age 4½ years. Identifying socio-demographic, child characteristics and maternal factors that are associated with inhibitory control is a crucial first step for identifying children at risk of atypical inhibition development and informing behavioural intervention strategies.

Analysis of Embedded Designs in Mechatronic Systems

As technology rises in almost every field, mechatronic systems are of no exception as embedded systems are incorporated as part of their design. This introduces mechatronic system to high computer intelligence manipulations and high task performance, However, the story is not always the same as engineers are unable to implement efficient embedded designs for mechatronics systems. Embedded mechatronic systems rely on many factors. Some include vibration, electrical and electromagnetic, mechanical and the intelligence of the software component. In addition, reducing the associated cost, size, and complexities for process innovation becomes highly significant. The project analysis efficient design techniques for embedded systems which includes design robustness, intelligent embedded system software, power consumption and memory optimization. Embedded systems have become ubiquitous and as a result optimization of the design and performance of programs that run on these systems have continued to remain as significant challenges to the computer systems research community

A process account of the relationship between informal learning and expressions of anger and anxiety

PurposeThis paper aims to explore how negative emotions lead to differential relationships with informal learning. Informal learning is posited to serve as a coping mechanism and positively influence performance.Design/methodology/approachThis paper provides a conceptual, process-based framework to explain the relationship between informal learning and stressful emotions of anger and anxiety.FindingsThe proposed framework in this paper suggests that informal learning in conjunction with emotion regulation can help neutralize negative emotions and promote improved cognitive functioning, better social functioning and higher task performance. From a practical perspective, the provided framework should help managers and organizational leaders better understand the emergence of negative emotion and how to constructively channel employee well-being from them.Originality/valueMuch of the informal learning literature has investigated dispositional and situational influences, without regard to the role that discrete emotions play in influencing cognitive, behavioral and motivational learning processes. This paper addresses this gap through a theoretical framework that explains the relationship between negative emotions and informal learning.

Enhancing Transparency in Human-autonomy Teaming via the Option-centric Rationale Display

Human-autonomy teaming is a major emphasis in the ongoing transformation of future work space wherein human agents and autonomous agents are expected to work as a team. While the increasing complexity in algorithms empowers autonomous systems, one major concern arises from the human factors perspective: Human agents have difficulty deciphering autonomy-generated solutions and increasingly perceive autonomy as a mysterious black box. The lack of transparency could lead to the lack of trust in autonomy and sub-optimal team performance (Chen and Barnes, 2014; Endsley, 2017; Lyons and Havig, 2014; de Visser et al., 2018; Yang et al., 2017). In response to this concern, researchers have investigated ways to enhance autonomy transparency. Existing human factors research on autonomy transparency has largely concentrated on conveying automation reliability or likelihood/(un)certainty information (Beller et al., 2013; McGuirl and Sarter, 2006; Wang et al., 2009; Neyedli et al., 2011). Providing explanations of automation’s behaviors is another way to increase transparency, which leads to higher performance and trust (Dzindolet et al., 2003; Mercado et al., 2016). Specifically, in the context of automated vehicles, studies have showed that informing the drivers of the reasons for the action of automated vehicles decreased drivers’ anxiety, increased their sense of control, preference and acceptance (Koo et al., 2014, 2016; Forster et al., 2017). However, the studies mentioned above largely focused on conveying simple likelihood information or used hand-drafted explanations, with only few exceptions (e.g.(Mercado et al., 2016)). Further research is needed to examine potential design structures of transparency autonomy. In the present study, we wish to propose an option-centric explanation approach, inspired by the research on design rationale. Design rationale is an area of design science focusing on the “representation for explicitly documenting the reasoning and argumentation that make sense of a specific artifact (MacLean et al., 1991)”. The theoretical underpinning for design rationale is that for designers what is important is not just the specific artifact itself but its other possibilities – why an artifact is designed in a particular way compared to how it might otherwise be. We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of the option-centric explanation approach on trust, dependence and team performance. We conducted a human-in-the-loop experiment with 34 participants (Age: Mean = 23.7 years, SD = 2.88 years). We developed a simulated game Treasure Hunter, where participants and an intelligent assistant worked together to uncover a map for treasures. The intelligent assistant’s ability, intent and decision-making rationale was conveyed in the option-centric rationale display. The experiment used a between-subject design with an independent variable – whether the option-centric rationale explanation was provided. The participants were randomly assigned to either of the two explanation conditions. Participants’ trust to the intelligent assistant, confidence of accomplishing the experiment without the intelligent assistant, and workload for the whole session were collected, as well as their scores for each map. The results showed that by conveying the intelligent assistant’s ability, intent and decision-making rationale in the option-centric rationale display, participants had higher task performance. With the display of all the options, participants had a better understanding and overview of the system. Therefore, they could utilize the intelligent assistant more appropriately and earned a higher score. It is notable that every participant only played 10 maps during the whole session. The advantages of option-centric rationale display might be more apparent if more rounds are played in the experiment session. Although not significant at the .05 level, there seems to be a trend suggesting lower levels of workload when the rationale explanation displayed. Our study contributes to the study of human-autonomy teaming by considering the important role of explanation display. It can help human operators build appropriate trust and improve the human-autonomy team performance.

Neurophysiological correlates of collective perceptual decision-making.

Humans frequently perform tasks collaboratively in daily life. Collaborating with others may or may not result in higher task performance than if one were to complete the task alone (i.e., a collective benefit). A recent study on collective benefits in perceptual decision-making showed that dyad members with similar individual performances attain collective benefit. However, little is known about the physiological basis of these results. Here, we replicate this earlier work and also investigate the neurophysiological correlates of decision-making using EEG. In a two-interval forced-choice task, co-actors individually indicated presence of a target stimulus with a higher contrast and then indicated their confidence on a rating scale. Viewing the individual ratings, dyads made a joint decision. Replicating earlier work, we found a positive correlation between the similarity of individual performances and collective benefit. We analyzed event-related potentials (ERPs) in three phases (i.e., stimulus onset, response and feedback) using explorative cluster mass permutation tests. At stimulus onset, ERPs were significantly linearly related to our manipulation of contrast differences, validating our manipulation of task difficulty. For individual and joint responses, we found a significant centro-parietal error-related positivity for correct versus incorrect responses, which suggests that accuracy is already evaluated at the response level. At feedback presentation, we found a significant late positive fronto-central potential elicited by incorrect joint responses. In sum, these results demonstrate that response- and feedback-related components elicited by an error-monitoring system differentially integrate conflicting information exchanged during the joint decision-making process.

Attitude, job satisfaction, and task performance of Thai millennial employees toward workplace fun

The purpose of this study is to emphasize the term workplace fun that has been widely used in the western world but has had minimal impact in developing countries—such as Thailand. The research examines the relationships among variables such as the attitude of millennial employees towards workplace fun, experienced workplace fun, job satisfaction, and task performance in Thailand. According to the data of the National Statistical Office of Thailand, millennial will account for half of Thailand’s workforce by 2030. The study relied upon survey data collected from 519 respondents representing millennials who are working in Thailand. By applying descriptive and inferential statistics, the study has found that millennial employees are true believers in the concept of workplace fun. Pearson’s correlation coefficient indicates that a higher exposure to experienced workplace fun leads to higher employee’s job satisfaction and higher task performance. This paper serves to change the traditional management view of having fun in the workplace and to direct for future work so that it may continue growing to improve Human Resource Management knowledge in Thailand.