Presenter(s)

Esther Adeyemi

Comments

3:00-4:15, Kennedy Union Ballroom

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Description

This study explores how Task Difficulty Level (TDL), color, and gender jointly influence mental workload using the Multi-Attribute Task Battery (MATB) simulation tool. While TDL is a well-established factor in cognitive demand, including color and gender adds new dimensions to understanding workload dynamics. Research suggests that color can affect workload through emotional, behavioral, and physiological responses, while gender-related differences in performance may stem from stereotypes, prior experience, and biological variation. A factorial experimental design examined these variables' independent and interactive effects across four MATB task types: Resource Management, Tracking, Monitoring, and Communication. The study included 180 runs and 15 replicates for each combination of color (3 levels), TDL (low, high), and gender (male, female), and the results were analyzed using ANOVA. Participants were divided into two color groups: RBG (Red, Blue, Gray) and YGG (Yellow, Green, Gray), each comprising 15 males and 15 females. Findings confirmed that higher TDL consistently elevated workload across all task categories. Gender significantly influenced performance in tracking (males outperform females in both groups) and communication (males outperform females in RBG). In YGG, females excelled in Resource Management, while males performed better in tracking. Color alone did not significantly affect workload except in the YGG group for communication and monitoring tasks. However, notable interactions were found: color and gender interacted significantly in the RBG group for Resource Management, while color and TDL interacted in YGG for communication. These findings accentuate the importance of considering demographic and visual variables in workload assessment and offer valuable insights into how task difficulty, color, and gender collectively shape cognitive performance, paving the way for more inclusive and adaptive task design.

Publication Date

4-23-2025

Project Designation

Graduate Research

Primary Advisor

Sharon Claxton Bommer

Primary Advisor's Department

Engineering Management, Systems, and Technology

Keywords

Stander Symposium, School of Engineering

The Influence of Task Difficulty, Color, and Gender on Mental Workload: A Factorial Analysis Using the Multi-Attribute Task Battery

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