TY - JOUR

T1 - The Impact of Mental Fatigue on Exploration in a Complex Computer Task

T2 - Rigidity and Loss of Systematic Strategies

AU - Van Der Linden, Dimitri

AU - Frese, Michael

AU - Sonnentag, Sabine

PY - 2003/9/1

Y1 - 2003/9/1

N2 - We investigated the impact of mental fatigue on exploration in a complex computer task. The exploration behavior of participants who underwent a fatigue manipulation (N = 36) was compared with that of a control (nonfatigued) group (N = 32). A distinction was also made between participants with high or low levels of general computer experience. Results showed that fatigued participants used significantly less systematic exploration and made more errors than did nonfatigued participants. Fatigued participants with low computer experience also showed significantly more rigid behavior than did the other participants. No differences were found on the number of subtasks solved. Compared with low-experience participants, highly experienced participants showed significantly more systematic exploration, less unsystematic trial and error, solved more subtasks, and made fewer errors (marginally significant p = .056). Findings were interpreted as the result of reduced task engagement under fatigue and reduced involvement of executive control on behavior. Actual or potential applications of this research include guidelines to prevent detrimental effects of mental fatigue on exploration behavior.

AB - We investigated the impact of mental fatigue on exploration in a complex computer task. The exploration behavior of participants who underwent a fatigue manipulation (N = 36) was compared with that of a control (nonfatigued) group (N = 32). A distinction was also made between participants with high or low levels of general computer experience. Results showed that fatigued participants used significantly less systematic exploration and made more errors than did nonfatigued participants. Fatigued participants with low computer experience also showed significantly more rigid behavior than did the other participants. No differences were found on the number of subtasks solved. Compared with low-experience participants, highly experienced participants showed significantly more systematic exploration, less unsystematic trial and error, solved more subtasks, and made fewer errors (marginally significant p = .056). Findings were interpreted as the result of reduced task engagement under fatigue and reduced involvement of executive control on behavior. Actual or potential applications of this research include guidelines to prevent detrimental effects of mental fatigue on exploration behavior.

KW - Business psychology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0344667533&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1518/hfes.45.3.483.27256

DO - 10.1518/hfes.45.3.483.27256

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 14702997

AN - SCOPUS:0344667533

VL - 45

SP - 483

EP - 494

JO - Human Factors

JF - Human Factors

SN - 0018-7208

IS - 3

ER -