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Ubiquitous Working: Do Work Versus Non-work Environments Affect Decision-Making and Concentration?
Carolin P Burmeister1, Johannes Moskaliuk1,2, Ulrike Cress1
1Knowledge Construction Lab, Leibniz-Institut für Wissensmedien, Tübingen, Germany.
Frontiers in Psychology
|March 30, 2018
Summary
Work environments, not non-work settings, modestly improved concentration and decision-making in students. This effect on ubiquitous working was observed regardless of time pressure, suggesting environment plays a role in cognitive performance.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Organizational Behavior
Background:
- Ubiquitous working, enabled by new technologies, allows knowledge workers to operate outside traditional office spaces.
- Previous studies indicate that physical environments significantly impact cognitive functions and work productivity.
- Understanding environmental influences is crucial for optimizing performance in flexible work arrangements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of work versus non-work virtual environments on decision-making and concentration.
- To examine whether time pressure moderates the effect of environment on cognitive performance.
- To test hypotheses regarding schema activation and riskier decision-making in work-related settings.
Main Methods:
- A laboratory experiment with 109 students manipulating virtual environments (work office vs. non-work garden) and time pressure.
- Assessing decision-making (riskiness) and concentration performance under different environmental and time pressure conditions.
- Utilizing an innovative methodology with inherent limitations for future research.
Main Results:
- A modest main effect of environment was found, with work environments enhancing concentration and influencing decision-making.
- No significant interaction effect between environment and time pressure was observed.
- Hypotheses regarding enhanced concentration and riskier decisions in work environments were partially supported.
Conclusions:
- Virtual work environments can positively influence cognitive performance, specifically concentration and decision-making, compared to non-work environments.
- The impact of environmental context on cognitive performance in ubiquitous working appears independent of time pressure in this study.
- Future research is needed to validate these findings across diverse work settings, demands, and activities, addressing methodological limitations.
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