This thesis examined the intra-individual relationship between state affect and task performance, with an emphasis on a) the moderating effects of trait affect and task difficulty; and b) the mediating effects of cognitive and affective regulation. Theory and empirical research from the emotion, motivation, and personality literatures was integrated to develop a multilevel model of states, traits, and situational factors as predictors of task performance. Data from five studies were analysed using single- and multi-level techniques to test the hypothesised model of relationships. The findings are reported within three manuscripts, which comprise the body of this thesis. Manuscript 1 presents validation evidence for the psychometric instruments used to measure the self-regulatory components of the model. Three studies (N = 758) were conducted to examine the nomological network of cognitive and affective regulation. In parallel, two new self-report scales were developed to operationalise these constructs within a repeated measures paradigm. The three studies demonstrated that the new cognitive and affective regulation scales were uniquely associated with other self-regulatory, personality, affective and achievement variables at the intra-individual and inter-individual levels. Study 1 provided evidence for the unidimensionality, internal consistency, and construct validity of each scale. Study 2 replicated and extended construct validity evidence using a different sample and performance domain. Study 3 established the utility of each scale for assessing intra-individual variability in cognitive and affective regulation, and their ability to predict performance within individuals. In sum, the three studies suggested that the new measures of cognitive and affective regulation were psychometrically adequate for use in model testing. Manuscripts 2 and 3 tested the intra-individual relationship between state affect and task performance, with a focus on the moderating effects of trait affect and task difficulty (Manuscript 2), and the mediating effects of cognitive and affective regulation (Manuscript 3). Each manuscript analysed different portions of data from two laboratory experiments (N = 182). In each experiment, participants performed multiple trials of an air-traffic control simulation that varied in task difficulty at the inter-individual (Study 4) or intra-individual (Study 5) level. Trait positive and negative affect were measured before the task, whereas state positive and negative affect, cognitive and affective regulation, and task performance were measured at repeated intervals over practice. In Manuscript 2, hierarchical linear modelling demonstrated that state positive affect was positively related, whereas state negative affect was negatively related, to task performance at the intra-individual level of analysis. As hypothesised, the strength of these affect-performance relationships was significantly moderated by trait affect and task difficulty. In both studies, the positive intra-individual relationship between state positive affect and performance was stronger for individuals with high (versus low) trait positive affect, particularly when task difficulty was high (versus low). In contrast, the negative intra-individual relationship between state negative affect and performance only emerged for individuals with low (versus high) trait negative affect, regardless of the level of task difficulty. In Study 4, the intra-individual relationship between state negative affect and task performance was also more pronounced when task difficulty was high (versus low). In Manuscript 3, multilevel multiple-mediation modelling demonstrated that cognitive regulation significantly mediated the intra-individual relationship between state positive affect and performance in both studies, alongside the intra-individual relationship between state negative affect and performance in Study 4. Unexpectedly, affective regulation failed to mediate either of these affect-performance relationships. However, state positive affect was positively related to affective regulation in both studies, whereas state negative affect was positively related to affective regulation in Study 5. Overall, this thesis makes theoretical, empirical and methodological contributions to understanding how affect relates to performance at the intra-individual level of analysis; and for whom, when, and why these relationships emerge. Within a multilevel framework, it integrates interdisciplinary perspectives to identify the affective determinants of performance from two levels of analysis. The results demonstrate that state positive and negative affect can differentially predict intra-individual variability in task performance, and that these effects may a) depend on trait affect and task difficulty; and b) be partially explained by cognitive regulation. These findings emphasise the importance of adopting a multilevel, repeated measures paradigm to examine how affective states, traits, and task demands interactively predict task performance. There is scope for extending this research further by investigating a broader range of moderating and mediating constructs. Practical implications and directions for future research are discussed.

This thesis examined the intra-individual relationship between state affect and task performance, with an emphasis on a) the moderating effects of trait affect and task difficulty; and b) the mediating effects of cognitive and affective regulation. Theory and empirical research from the emotion, motivation, and personality literatures was integrated to develop a multilevel model of states, traits, and situational factors as predictors of task performance. Data from five studies were analysed using single- and multi-level techniques to test the hypothesised model of relationships. The findings are reported within three manuscripts, which comprise the body of this thesis. Manuscript 1 presents validation evidence for the psychometric instruments used to measure the self-regulatory components of the model. Three studies (N = 758) were conducted to examine the nomological network of cognitive and affective regulation. In parallel, two new self-report scales were developed to operationalise these constructs within a repeated measures paradigm. The three studies demonstrated that the new cognitive and affective regulation scales were uniquely associated with other self-regulatory, personality, affective and achievement variables at the intra-individual and inter-individual levels. Study 1 provided evidence for the unidimensionality, internal consistency, and construct validity of each scale. Study 2 replicated and extended construct validity evidence using a different sample and performance domain. Study 3 established the utility of each scale for assessing intra-individual variability in cognitive and affective regulation, and their ability to predict performance within individuals. In sum, the three studies suggested that the new measures of cognitive and affective regulation were psychometrically adequate for use in model testing. Manuscripts 2 and 3 tested the intra-individual relationship between state affect and task performance, with a focus on the moderating effects of trait affect and task difficulty (Manuscript 2), and the mediating effects of cognitive and affective regulation (Manuscript 3). Each manuscript analysed different portions of data from two laboratory experiments (N = 182). In each experiment, participants performed multiple trials of an air-traffic control simulation that varied in task difficulty at the inter-individual (Study 4) or intra-individual (Study 5) level. Trait positive and negative affect were measured before the task, whereas state positive and negative affect, cognitive and affective regulation, and task performance were measured at repeated intervals over practice. In Manuscript 2, hierarchical linear modelling demonstrated that state positive affect was positively related, whereas state negative affect was negatively related, to task performance at the intra-individual level of analysis. As hypothesised, the strength of these affect-performance relationships was significantly moderated by trait affect and task difficulty. In both studies, the positive intra-individual relationship between state positive affect and performance was stronger for individuals with high (versus low) trait positive affect, particularly when task difficulty was high (versus low). In contrast, the negative intra-individual relationship between state negative affect and performance only emerged for individuals with low (versus high) trait negative affect, regardless of the level of task difficulty. In Study 4, the intra-individual relationship between state negative affect and task performance was also more pronounced when task difficulty was high (versus low). In Manuscript 3, multilevel multiple-mediation modelling demonstrated that cognitive regulation significantly mediated the intra-individual relationship between state positive affect and performance in both studies, alongside the intra-individual relationship between state negative affect and performance in Study 4. Unexpectedly, affective regulation failed to mediate either of these affect-performance relationships. However, state positive affect was positively related to affective regulation in both studies, whereas state negative affect was positively related to affective regulation in Study 5. Overall, this thesis makes theoretical, empirical and methodological contributions to understanding how affect relates to performance at the intra-individual level of analysis; and for whom, when, and why these relationships emerge. Within a multilevel framework, it integrates interdisciplinary perspectives to identify the affective determinants of performance from two levels of analysis. The results demonstrate that state positive and negative affect can differentially predict intra-individual variability in task performance, and that these effects may a) depend on trait affect and task difficulty; and b) be partially explained by cognitive regulation. These findings emphasise the importance of adopting a multilevel, repeated measures paradigm to examine how affective states, traits, and task demands interactively predict task performance. There is scope for extending this research further by investigating a broader range of moderating and mediating constructs. Practical implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Linköpings universitet, 2006. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Construction is one of the largest industry sectors in terms of size and output in the United Kingdom (UK). The sector contributes about 10% directly to the UK's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and drives historical GDP growth. However, Construction projects and Organisations continue to underperform at significant levels which is underpinned by actors' Information Behaviours (IBs).

Orientador: Rita de Cássia Ietto Montilha / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-21T17:53:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Becker_Paula_M.pdf: 1826117 bytes, checksum: bfd083591567eec2a5b180b4fb2ad2e4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: Pessoas com deficiência visual deparam-se, na maioria das vezes, com dificuldades que envolvem as esferas social, econômica e funcional, podendo apresentar prejuízo em seu nível de independência e autoestima, comprometendo sua qualidade de vida. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar níveis de desempenho ocupacional e de qualidade de vida de indivíduos com deficiência visual e posterior análise de inter-relação entre os índices encontrados. Realizou-se um levantamento descritivo e de corte transversal, junto a pessoas com deficiência visual, de idade igual ou superior a 18 anos, inscritas para reabilitação em um serviço universitário, no período de agosto de 2011 a março de 2012. Para a coleta de dados foram utilizados três instrumentos aplicados por entrevista pela própria pesquisadora. O primeiro foi um questionário que permite obter os dados de identificação e perfil sócio-demográfico. O segundo foi o COPM que mensura a auto-percepção do sujeito em relação ao seu desempenho ocupacional e o terceiro foi o SF-36, instrumento que possibilita verificar a auto-percepção do sujeito em relação a sua qualidade de vida. Para análise dos dados foi construído banco de dados e realizado o tratamento estatístico. A amostra foi não probabilística constituída de acordo com os critérios de conveniência e composta de 23 sujeitos, sendo 74,0% com baixa visão, 52,2% do gênero feminino e a média de idade foi de 46,7 anos. A auto-percepção de desempenho ocupacional dos entrevistados foi baixa. Os resultados encontrados mostraram que a auto-percepção de desempenho e aspectos emocionais dos participantes com baixa-visão foram melhores do que os com cegueira. Verificou-se que quanto maior era o tempo de deficiência visual, pior era a avaliação do domínio dor. O domínio vitalidade apresentou relação estatisticamente significativa com os domínios estado geral de saúde, desempenho e satisfação, assim como o domínio saúde mental apresentou relação com estado geral de saúde, dor, desempenho e vitalidade. Os resultados mostram que quanto melhor era o aspecto emocional, maior também a influência positiva refletida nos aspectos físicos, funcionais e sociais dos participantes. O desempenho ocupacional e a qualidade de vida são condições que podem ser trabalhadas em programa de reabilitação para pessoas com deficiência visual por meio de equipe interdisciplinar / Abstract: People with visual disabilities are oftentimes faced with difficulties regarding the social, economic and functional areas, which may impair their level of independence and self-esteem, affecting therefore their quality of life. The purpose of this study was to identify levels of occupational performance and quality of life of individuals with visual disabilities and subsequent analysis of the interrelationship among the indexes found. A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted, with a sample group of people with visual disabilities, aged 18 years old and over, which were enrolled on rehabilitation in a university center, from August 2011 to March 2012. For data collection three instruments were applied through interviews by the researcher. The first was a questionnaire used in order to obtain identification data and social-demographic profile. The second was the COPM which measures one's self-perception of occupational performance and the third was the SF-36, an instrument that allows verifying the self-perception of quality of life. For data analysis a database was constructed and statistical analysis was performed. Group sample was classified under a non-probability sampling (convenience) and comprised 23 individuals, 74.0% with low vision, 52.2% were female and the mean age was 46.7 years. Self-perception of occupational performance by the interviewees was low. Results showed that self-perception of performance and emotion aspects of the participants with low vision were better than those with blindness. It was verified that the larger the time of visual impairment, the worse the evaluation of the pain domain. The vitality domain showed a statistically significant relationship with the domains general health, performance and satisfaction, whereas the mental health domain was related to general health, pain, vitality and performance. The results showed that the better the emotional aspect, the greater the positive influence reflected in physical, functional and social aspects of the participants. Occupational performance and quality of life are conditions that may be employed in a rehabilitation program for people with visual disabilities through an interdisciplinary team / Mestrado / Interdisciplinaridade e Reabilitação / Mestra em Saúde, Interdisciplinaridade e Reabilitação

Simultaneously listening to music whilst doing other tasks has become more common with the development of mobile technology and the rise of streaming platforms, but what affect does listening to music have on task performance? There have been several theories on this both advocating for and against the effects of music. This study has two primary questions to answer. Does background noise (condition 1: no music, condition 2: music with words, condition 3: same music without words) influence reading comprehension, and does how well individuals perform on complex tasks correlate with individual differences particularly their ability to media multitask and their boredom proneness. The findings are generally in-line with the consensus of prior research that music does have a negative impact on complex tasks when compared to performing them without auditory stimuli. Although there are differences depending on what stimuli is used. A correlation was found that has not been extensively studied by prior research to my knowledge. It pertains to the relationship of media multitasking and boredom proneness. It seems like the higher an individual’s MM score is the lower their BP score will be, on average. What implications this might have for the larger attention research field needs to be further explored before any inference can be made. The ANOVA and regression results for the other variables showed no significant correlations. / Att lyssna på musik samtidigt som man utför andra uppgifter har blivit allt vanligare med utvecklingen av mobil teknik och uppkomsten av streamingplattformar, men vilken påverkan har egentligen musiklyssnande på uppgiftprestanda. Det har funnits flera teorier om detta som förespråkande för och emot effekterna av musik. Denna studie har primärt två frågor att svara på. Påverkar bakgrundsljud (villkor 1: ingen musik, villkor 2: musik med ord, villkor 3: samma musik utan ord) läsförståelsen, och finns det ett samband mellan hur bra en individ utför en komplex uppgift, och individuella skillnader, särskilt förmågan för "media multitasking" och deras "boredom proneness". Resultaten är allmänt i linje med konsensusen från tidigare forskning att musik har en negativ inverkan på komplexa uppgifter jämfört med att utföra dem utan auditivt stimuli. Även om det finns skillnader i inverkan beroende på vilka stimuli som används. En korrelation hittades som inte har undersökts noggrant genom tidigare forskning, enligt min vetskap. Det avser förhållandet mellan "media multitasking" och "boredom proneness". Det verkar som att ju högre en individs MM-poäng är desto lägre blir deras BP-poäng. Vilka konsekvenser detta kan ha för forskningsfältet i stort är svårt att säga och måste undersökas ytterligare innan någon slutsats kan göras. Resultaten från utförd ANOVA och regressionsanalys påvisade inga andra signifikanta korrelationer mellan de andra variablerna i insamlade data.

Sufficient rest breaks are needed for optimal performance in traditional workplaces, but it is unclear how working with a loosely structured work schedule impacts recovery. Students have temporal flexibility and serve as a good proxy for all groups who work unstructured work schedules. Since most students and employees use the weekend to recover, this study investigated the relationship between recovery experiences (i.e., psychological detachment, relaxation, and mastery) over the weekend and the state of being recovered on the following Monday. Further, the relationship between the state of being recovered on Monday and weekday performance indicators (i.e., task performance and personal initiative) was investigated. Data was collected over three consecutive weeks from a cohort of first-year university students (N = 106) using a quantitative diary study design. This study administered seven surveys (i.e., a personal data survey once, a pre-weekend survey three times, and a postweekend survey three times). After three weeks, 66 participants (N = 66) had completed all the surveys at the person level, yielding 148 matched observations at the week-level. Multilevel modelling showed that weekend relaxation positively predicted the state of being recovered on Monday. Weekend psychological detachment and weekend mastery experiences did not predict the state of being recovered on Monday, and the state of being recovered did not predict weekly personal initiative or weekly task performance. The theoretical and practical implications of this study are presented, as are limitations and suggestions for future research.

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Yes / The headscarf conceals hair and other external features of a head (such as the ears). It therefore may have implications for the way in which such faces are perceived. Images of faces with hair (H) or alternatively, covered by a headscarf (HS) were used in three experiments. In Experiment 1 participants saw both H and HS faces in a yes/no recognition task in which the external features either remained the same between learning and test (Same) or switched (Switch). Performance was similar for H and HS faces in both the Same and Switch condition, but in the Switch condition it dropped substantially compared to the Same condition. This implies that the mere presence of the headscarf does not reduce performance, rather, the change between the type of external feature (hair or headscarf) causes the drop in performance. In Experiment 2, which used eye-tracking methodology, it was found that almost all fixations were to internal regions, and that there was no difference in the proportion of fixations to external features between the Same and Switch conditions, implying that the headscarf influenced processing by virtue of extrafoveal viewing. In Experiment 3, similarity ratings of the internal features of pairs of HS faces were higher than pairs of H faces, confirming that the internal and external features of a face are perceived as a whole rather than as separate components. / The Educational Charity of the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians.

<p dir="ltr">Task performance is considered an important emphasis in the world of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). With the emergence of advanced technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR), it is important to understand how individuals are able to utilize this tool for productive task performance. Researchers are continuously exploring how to enhance human performance in a digital space (Wang & Jung, 2011). Prior research has demonstrated the role of integrating haptic feedback into a visual interface, with potential benefits in task performance, as well as increased experiences of presence and awareness while completing HCI tasks. Several research studies have been carried out to investigate ways to optimize human performance and richly uncover factors that affect human performance negatively and positively (Asan et al., 2015). Typically, in a VR setting, three primary senses are engaged: visual, auditory, and tactile (haptic). However, there is a gap in the literature regarding how the availability and intensity of haptic feedback through VR controllers affect users during task performance. This research study seeks to understand the cognitive performance of users in VR when exposed to varying levels of haptic feedback via the VR controllers. Results from this research reveal that participants perceived their performance to be higher and frustration to be lower when they were exposed to moderate and consistent availability and intensity of haptic feedback. To enhance VR’s immersion for users, it is essential to comprehend how to engage the human senses to optimize cognitive performance. Overall, the impact of this research study is to add to an existing body of literature in the domain of haptic feedback for extended reality-based experiences. </p>