Affect component and errors during numerical data entry— A study

Abstract

The paper focuses on the role of emotions and their influence on errors in computer data entry work. Emotions are important and most pervasive aspect of human behavior including during work. Our focus is to explore the role of ‘internal performance shaping factor’ like ‘emotions’ which may affect the work performance during numerical data entry work. It is posited that the user makes less number of errors in a positive emotion during numerical data entry task as compared to negative emotion. A study was conducted using an experimental interface developed to test the frequency of errors in positive and negative emotions induced during the task of numerical data entry. Emotions were induced, before giving the tasks by showing video clips with themes of comedy, anger and sadness. To compare it with the baseline performance, a control group was also designed that had shown a video of abstract images. To assess whether right emotions have been induced, an emotional measure through Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) scale of participant was taken before and after emotion inducement phase as a validate. Both the valence and arousal dimensions of emotions have been recorded through the scale. Rural Indian participants from middle and lower middle income category familiar with using devices were given a task of numerical data entry in local and English language to perform. The task involved functions of a calculations using a calculator which was designed for this experiment. Data was analyzed for errors committed and speed of data entry by the participants during positive and negative emotional states. Errors and response timing data’s were collected as logs during task performance recording of data input. Using this information speed and accuracy were calculated. Result verify the posits that working under negative emotion induce more errors and require more time than when performing under positive emotion. © Springer India 2015.