Attention and human errors in multitask performance

Abstract

This study examines prospective memory errors in programmer multitasking emphasizing how attention affects performance. It demonstrates that strategically, specific instruction has the benefit of reducing the occurrence of habit intrusion error. It emphasized on how attention affects performance among a group of computer science and engineering students (N=60). The study reports a taxonomical analysis of prospective memory errors. An experimental paradigm was developed to perform a taxonomical analysis of prospective memory errors. There was a significant effect of attention on omission error. Analysis of various errors contributing to overall prospective memory performance failure revealed that omission error comprised of 70.49%, target multi-response error comprised of 16.39%, invalid response error comprised of 11.48%, and habit intrusion error (even though intended to be eliminated) comprised of 1.64%. Copyright 2013 ACM.