Thesis (M.H.S.A.)--University of Michigan, 1981.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Michigan, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 213-221).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Los Angeles--Management, 1985. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 204-208).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1967. / Typescript. Vita. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis--Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. / At head of title: Université catholique de Louvain, Faculté des sciences économiques, sociales et politiques. Bibliography: leaves 247-255.

Thesis (M.S.)--Cornell University, February, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 53-59).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2005. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 158-160). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Central Florida, 2008. / Adviser: Robert Pritchard. Includes bibliographical references (p. 41-47).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2005. / Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xiii, 137 p.; also includes graphics (some col.). Includes bibliographical references (p. 133-137). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center

Aversion is a complex phenomenon that arises over time through performance of cognitively demanding tasks and has been associated with the mechanisms of mental fatigue and compensatory control. However, little is known about this sensation to dissociate from the task at hand and the causation thereof. It is apparent that aversion is a negative state for the operator and could result in decreased performance and productivity. Through identification of factors that contribute to aversion when performing cognitively demanding tasks, recommendations to reduce design deficits may be employed to promote worker wellbeing and further advance performance and productivity. The current study examined possible factors that may influence aversion experienced through execution of cognitive tasks. A subsequent aim of this study was to assess a possible cause of aversion. The cause of aversion was hypothesized to be related to efficiency, namely the perception of efficiency when performing tasks and actual efficiency calculated through performance of tasks in relation to the expenditure of effort. Four investigations were undertaken with a non-repeated design between investigations and a repeated design within investigations. The first investigation was an analysis of the effect that stimulus cycling had on the aversion experienced. This consisted of a proof reading task with two conditions varying in the repetitiveness of the text, therefore, allowing an analysis as to how aversion is altered by the provision of a new stimulus to the participants. Investigation two investigated the effect that task difficulty imposed on aversion experienced. This comprised of two conditions with varied difficulty that were implemented through a driving simulator tracking task with difficulty altered by the width of the driving lane. The effect of performance feedback on the aversion experienced towards a task was the focus of the third investigation. The effect on aversion experienced was assessed through a driving simulator tracking task with a condition providing feedback of performance to participants and a condition with no knowledge of performance. The final experiment evaluated the effect of task alternations on aversion. This experiment was conducted through alternations between a driving simulator tracking task and a choice reaction task. The choice reaction tasks required participants to identify critical and non-critical stimulus. Four conditions were required for this experiment and were made up of two conditions where there was provision of alternation that varied in frequencies between the two tasks (medium alternation condition and fast alternation condition) and two conditions where no alternations were instated (driving simulator task condition and choice reaction task condition). Separations between all testing conditions were three or more days apart with sixty participants distributed between the investigations. Test duration of each condition was 30 minutes. Subjective data was recorded throughout investigations for all conditions in the form of aversion, subjectively perceived efficiency and rate of perceived exertion. Objective data was collected in the form of physiological responses and performance of tasks for the analysis of objective efficiency. For factors influencing aversion analysis, no differences in aversion experienced were found for the task difficulty and performance feedback investigations. Aversion was found to be less for the changes imposed through the task cycles and task alternation investigations. This concludes that aversion is aggravated through monotonous tasks and by a change of the stimulus or the structure of the cognitive tasks provided to operators; aversion can be alleviated. The results for the cause of aversion analysis found no difference in objective efficiency over time, with a subsequent decrease in perceived efficiency associated with the increasing aversion. Inference from these findings suggest that aversion cannot be attributed to objective inefficiency of task performance, however it can further be assumed that perception of actual efficiency is inaccurate. Perception of efficiency however had a large influence on the sensation of aversion. Aversion is seen to be more of a product of time on task, however whether this is mechanism of fatigue or compensatory control is still to be determined.