The Benefits of Interruptions

Presentation Type

Poster/Portfolio

Presenter Major(s)

Communications - Theatre, Psychology, English

Mentor Information

Benjamin Swets, swetsb@gvsu.edu

Department

Psychology

Location

Kirkhof Center KC 74

Start Date

13-4-2011 12:00 PM

End Date

13-4-2011 1:00 PM

Keywords

Social Science

Abstract

How do individuals deal with interruptions during tasks with heavy cognitive load? Although interruptions are generally regarded as disruptive, it is possible that in some highly complex task circumstances interruptions serve an adaptive function to supplement limited memory stores. To investigate this, we used a simulation game in which participants played detectives investigating a series of complex crime scenes. We manipulated the presence of interruptions to examine circumstances under which interruptions can be beneficial or harmful to task performance. The interruptions were irrelevant to the current case, but vital to the adequate completion of suspended cases. Initial findings show that although interruptions may disrupt local performance on the task being interrupted, global performance, measured by total evidence collected, is aided by interruptions. The results have implications for basic research on prospective memory as well as applied issues of team functioning.

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Apr 13th, 12:00 PM Apr 13th, 1:00 PM

The Benefits of Interruptions

Kirkhof Center KC 74

How do individuals deal with interruptions during tasks with heavy cognitive load? Although interruptions are generally regarded as disruptive, it is possible that in some highly complex task circumstances interruptions serve an adaptive function to supplement limited memory stores. To investigate this, we used a simulation game in which participants played detectives investigating a series of complex crime scenes. We manipulated the presence of interruptions to examine circumstances under which interruptions can be beneficial or harmful to task performance. The interruptions were irrelevant to the current case, but vital to the adequate completion of suspended cases. Initial findings show that although interruptions may disrupt local performance on the task being interrupted, global performance, measured by total evidence collected, is aided by interruptions. The results have implications for basic research on prospective memory as well as applied issues of team functioning.