Boredom in the Workplace: A New Look at an Old Problem.
Mary L Cummings1, Fei Gao2, Kris M Thornburg3
1Duke University, Durham, North Carolina m.cummings@duke.edu.
Human Factors
|October 23, 2015
Summary
Boredom in the workplace is increasing due to automation. Understanding its facets and developing interventions, like physiological measures and better system design, are crucial for motivation and retention.
Area of Science:
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Occupational Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Automation increases workplace boredom, impacting human interaction with systems.
- Tedium in work environments necessitates a deeper understanding of boredom's multifaceted nature.
- Developing targeted strategies to mitigate workplace boredom is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review historical and current research on boredom.
- To present a framework for understanding boredom, especially in supervisory control.
- To identify research gaps and future directions in boredom research.
Main Methods:
- A systems-based framework, the Boredom Influence Diagram, was developed.
- This framework maps the interrelationships between boredom's influences and outcomes.
- Literature review of historical and recent efforts in boredom research.
Main Results:
- Boredom is significantly linked to vigilance, attention management, and task performance.
- The need for more naturalistic experiments simulating boring work environments is highlighted.
- The review synthesizes various facets of boredom and their connections.
Conclusions:
- Workplace boredom is an escalating concern due to automation, affecting motivation and retention.
- Continuous boredom measurement using physiological signals is critical.
- Interventions like personnel selection and improved system/task design show potential, requiring further evaluation.
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