The goal of the present study was to compare two secondary workload tasks, specifically a time interval estimation and visual-spatial task, to determine which of these is most appropriate for the assessment of laparoscopic mental workload. Participants performed a peg transfer task in two conditions: a normal camera angle and a 90° camera angle intended to increase mental workload. Based on multiple resource theory, it was predicted the visual-spatial task would be more sensitive to the workload manipulation than the time estimation task because it draws upon the specific, as opposed to more general, attentional resources required by laparoscopy. Primary task results demonstrated that manipulation of camera angle did change workload levels. Secondary task results showed that the visual-spatial task possessed greater sensitivity and diagnosticity than the interval estimation task. However, interval estimation demonstrated a global sensitivity to workload changes. The findings suggest that a visual-spatial secondary task is an effective method to assess workload experienced during laparoscopy.
","abstract_html":"<p>The goal of the present study was to compare two secondary workload tasks, specifically a time interval estimation and visual-spatial task, to determine which of these is most appropriate for the assessment of laparoscopic mental workload. Participants performed a peg transfer task in two conditions: a normal camera angle and a 90° camera angle intended to increase mental workload. Based on multiple resource theory, it was predicted the visual-spatial task would be more sensitive to the workload manipulation than the time estimation task because it draws upon the specific, as opposed to more general, attentional resources required by laparoscopy. Primary task results demonstrated that manipulation of camera angle did change workload levels. Secondary task results showed that the visual-spatial task possessed greater sensitivity and diagnosticity than the interval estimation task. However, interval estimation demonstrated a global sensitivity to workload changes. The findings suggest that a visual-spatial secondary task is an effective method to assess workload experienced during laparoscopy.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Warvel, Levi Parker"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"Psychology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Mark W. Scerbo","Christopher Brill","Barbara Winstead"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2015,"date_issued":"2015-04-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2015-04-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:33:54Z","subjects":["Dual task","Interval production","Laparoscopy","Mental workload","Secondary task","Visual-spatial task","Cognitive Psychology","Surgery"],"languages":[],"rights":["In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
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"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Assessing the Effectiveness of an Interval Estimation and a Visual-Spatial Secondary Task as Measures of Mental Workload During Laparoscopy"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Mark W. Scerbo","Christopher Brill","Barbara Winstead"],"dc:creator":["Warvel, Levi Parker"],"dc:date.available":["2015-07-08T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["The goal of the present study was to compare two secondary workload tasks, specifically a time interval estimation and visual-spatial task, to determine which of these is most appropriate for the assessment of laparoscopic mental workload. Participants performed a peg transfer task in two conditions: a normal camera angle and a 90° camera angle intended to increase mental workload. Based on multiple resource theory, it was predicted the visual-spatial task would be more sensitive to the workload manipulation than the time estimation task because it draws upon the specific, as opposed to more general, attentional resources required by laparoscopy. Primary task results demonstrated that manipulation of camera angle did change workload levels. Secondary task results showed that the visual-spatial task possessed greater sensitivity and diagnosticity than the interval estimation task. However, interval estimation demonstrated a global sensitivity to workload changes. The findings suggest that a visual-spatial secondary task is an effective method to assess workload experienced during laparoscopy.
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"],"dc:subject":["Dual task","Interval production","Laparoscopy","Mental workload","Secondary task","Visual-spatial task","Cognitive Psychology","Surgery"],"dc:title":["Assessing the Effectiveness of an Interval Estimation and a Visual-Spatial Secondary Task as Measures of Mental Workload During Laparoscopy"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Psychology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:33:54Z"}