Excess coffee consumption in simulated complex work settings: detriment or facilitation of performance?

Twenty-four managers who normally consume between 400 and 1,000 mg of caffeine per day participated in all-day quasi-experimental simulations. In a crossover, doubleblind design, they made complex managerial decisions either on treatment with their typical daily dose of caffeine or on treatment with 400 mg of caffeine in excess of daily consumption. The effect of caffeine treatment on various validated performance indicators was investigated. The impact of excess caffeine consumption was mild. Increased caffeine facilitated speed of response to incoming information but decreased utilization of opportunity. No significance was obtained for other measures of managerial effectiveness (such as activity, breadth, strategy, and emergency response).     

Effects of increasing failure and success on military and economic risk taking.

Investigated the effect of success, failure, and time spent in decision making on the degree of military and economic risk taking. A complex experimental simulation technique was employed as the research method to permit comparison of data obtained in a more "real world-like" setting with results reported by investigators using small-scale laboratory techniques. Results from 88 undergraduates show that risk taking increases with the length of time that decision-making groups spend in working on a task. After some time, risky decision making may become concentrated in 1 decision area at a time, even though risks could be taken in more areas. Comparisons to laboratory results suggest some commonalities and differences with regard to risk-taking results. (37 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Conflict and attitudes toward the opponent: An application of the Collins and Hoyt attitude change theory to groups in interorganizational conflict.

Conducted an experimental simulation of an internation conflict in which 34 4-man teams participated. Ss were 136 undergraduates. Each team was subdivided into 2 decision makers (central roles) and 2 information handlers (peripheral roles). In keeping with the 1971 attitude change theory of B. E. Collins and M. F. Hoyt, it was predicted that this task allocation, with a possible additional factor of physical separation between subteams, would be a determinant of the players' emergent attitudes toward an opponent team. Results are consistent with the prediction. Teams which engaged in actions with aversive consequences for an opponent held more negative attitudes toward that opponent than teams which (although equal in all other respects) were prevented from directly engaging in these actions. (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Effects of beta blockade with metoprolol on simple and complex task performance": Erratum.

Reports an error in "Effects of beta blockade with metoprolol on simple and complex task performance" by Siegfried Streufert, Anthony DePadova, Thomas McGlynn, Mary Piasecki and et al (Health Psychology, 1989, Vol 8[2], 143-158). The reference and citations for Merrill, Robbins, Schultz, Streeten, and Elias (1987) were incorrect. The correct reference is: Elias, M. F., Robbins, M. A., Schultz, N. R., Streeten, D. H. P., & Elias, P. K. (1987). Clinical significance of cognitive performance by hypertensive patients. Hypertension, 9, 192-197. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 1989-34110-001.) Measured the effect of treatment with the beta-blocker metoprolol on several indicants of task performance in 25 mildly to moderately hypertensive men (aged 24–63 yrs) treated for 2 wks each with drug and placebo, compared with 25 untreated normotensive men (aged 23–64 yrs). Ss responded twice to the Mood Adjective Check List (MACL) and the Stroop Color and Word Test. In addition, Ss participated in 2 parallel decision-making simulations. Results indicate that normotensives and hypertensives on drug or placebo did not differ on MACL and Stroop scores. Comparisons on 12 validated simulation measures showed that treatment with metoprolol aided complex task performance. Treatment improved strategic capacity and the ability to deal effectively with emergencies. Preliminary evidence that treatment with metoprolol might help restore performance capacity that may have been lost due to hypertensive disease was also obtained. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of alcohol intoxication on risk taking, strategy, and error rate in visuomotor performance.

44 adult men (aged 21–45 yrs) participated for 2 days (alcohol vs placebo treatment) in a double-blind, crossover experiment. Performance on the Digit Symbol Substitution Task (DSST) and a visuomotor (VM) task was measured 4 times each day. On the alcohol-treatment day, data were obtained once during ascending breath alcohol levels (BALs), once during maximal BALs (0.05 or 0.10), and twice during descending BALs. Data were collected at the same time points on the placebo-treatment day. Limited evidence for acute tolerance was obtained with the DSST, but error rates on the VM task were higher during maximal and descending BALs. Error rates remained near placebo values, and participants displayed slightly greater caution while BALs were ascending. Strategy scores on the VM task exceeded placebo scores during maximal intoxication. Data interpretation is focused on individuals in higher level (e.g., professional) positions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of load stressors, cognitive complexity and Type A coronary prone behavior on visual-motor task performance.

In 2 experiments, 25 and 42 adult working males participated in a visual-motor task modeled on a video game. The game was designed to measure strategy, risk taking, errors committed, and overall task performance. Predictions of complexity theory for task performance were supported. In Exp II, Ss were divided into 4 subgroups on the basis of Type A (coronary prone) or Type B (noncoronary prone) behavior and on the basis of uni- vs multidimensional responding, as measured by an interview using the stems of the Sentence Completion Test. Type A behavior did not contribute to differences in visual-motor performance. More multidimensional Ss exceeded their unidimensional counterparts, especially in the application of strategy. The extension of complexity theory approaches to simpler tasks is discussed. It is noted that the frequently voiced assumptions of Type A individuals—that their behavior style tends to lead to higher performance levels—is not supported. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Age and management team performance.

180 male managers participated as age-homogeneous 4-person teams in a validated all-day decision-making simulation. 15 teams consisted of 28–35 yr old participants (young), 15 teams were in the 45–55 yrs age range (middle-aged), and 15 teams consisted of 65–75 yr old (older) persons. More than 40 objective performance measures (loading on 12–25 factors) were calculated on the basis of team decision making, planning, and other indicators. Performance by young and middle-aged teams was generally similar. Older teams made fewer decisions and were less strategic and less responsive to incoming information. Their overview of the task was less broad; action diversity and information search was reduced. However, older teams used opportunities and handled a simulated emergency as effectively as their younger and middle-aged counterparts. Alternative explanations for the obtained differences are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of beta blockade with metoprolol on simple and complex task performance.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 8(5) of Health Psychology (see record 2008-09113-001). The reference and citations for Merrill, Robbins, Schultz, Streeten, and Elias (1987) were incorrect. The correct reference is: Elias, M. F., Robbins, M. A., Schultz, N. R., Streeten, D. H. P., & Elias, P. K. (1987). Clinical significance of cognitive performance by hypertensive patients. Hypertension, 9, 192-197.] Measured the effect of treatment with the beta-blocker metoprolol on several indicants of task performance in 25 mildly to moderately hypertensive men (aged 24–63 yrs) treated for 2 wks each with drug and placebo, compared with 25 untreated normotensive men (aged 23–64 yrs). Ss responded twice to the Mood Adjective Check List (MACL) and the Stroop Color and Word Test. In addition, Ss participated in 2 parallel decision-making simulations. Results indicate that normotensives and hypertensives on drug or placebo did not differ on MACL and Stroop scores. Comparisons on 12 validated simulation measures showed that treatment with metoprolol aided complex task performance. Treatment improved strategic capacity and the ability to deal effectively with emergencies. Preliminary evidence that treatment with metoprolol might help restore performance capacity that may have been lost due to hypertensive disease was also obtained. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)