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Related Experiment Videos

Performance in a complex multiple-task environment during a laboratory-based simulation of occasional night work.

Jürgen Sauer1, David G Wastell, G Robert J Hockey

  • 1Darmstadt University of Technology, Institute of Psychology, Darmstadt, Germany. sauer@psychologie.tu-darmstadt.de

Human Factors
|April 2, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Night work did not affect overall system performance in a simulated complex task. However, participants used riskier strategies and showed slower reactions to alarms during night shifts.

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Area of Science:

  • Human Factors
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Industrial Engineering

Background:

  • Night work is common in many industries, potentially impacting human performance in complex operational environments.
  • Understanding the effects of circadian rhythm disruptions on cognitive functions is crucial for safety and efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of occasional night work on simulated process control performance.
  • To assess effects on primary system management and secondary cognitive tasks.

Main Methods:

  • 21 students completed two 6-hour simulated shifts (daytime and night).
  • Performance was measured on a complex process control task, including fault diagnosis, monitoring, control actions, alarm reaction time, and prospective memory.
  • Subjective state was also recorded.

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Main Results:

  • Overall system performance was not impaired by night work.
  • Monitoring and control actions were reduced, with participants reporting increased use of 'corner-cutting' strategies.
  • Alarm reaction time increased during night work, but prospective memory and subjective state showed no significant changes.

Conclusions:

  • Occasional night work may not degrade overall complex system performance but can lead to altered operational strategies and slower responses to critical events.
  • Findings have implications for designing complex systems for safe and effective nighttime operation.