The tactile signal detection task and why it could change how we measure workload

Abstract

In Human Factors research, measuring the construct of workload is common. This often takes the form of using subjective questionnaires such as the NASA-TLX. Another approach analyses operators' performance in a secondary task to quantify and measure workload. We developed and, thus, propose one such task: the (Tactile) Signal Detection Task (TSDT).

In two experimental studies, the performance of the TSDT was compared to NASA-TLX ratings during varying workload conditions in a laboratory setting. Study 2 additionally investigated the susceptibility of the NASA-TLX and the TSDT to different difficulty primes. Results indicate a good performance of the TSDT in measuring workload, a susceptibility of the NASA-TLX, and a non-susceptibility of the TSDT to difficulty primes. Further results and practical implications are discussed.