Introduction
The performance on a given task is affected by various factors. Distraction is one of the factors that has been hypothesized to affect task completion. Goodell, Cao and Schwaitzberg (2006) reported that cognitive distractions resulted in an increase in the time required to complete tasks by laparoscopic surgeons. Understanding the effect that distractions have on task performance is important various fields. In the academic field, the knowledge can be used to explain the performance of students during tests. It can help show what proportion of their performance is attributed to attention deficits resulting from distractions.
Problem
Tests are done in natural environments rather than controlled environment. The presence of an invigilator does not eliminate all the distractions. This argument is illustrated by Craik (2014) who finds that any distractions, including the invigilator impair the cognitive performance of the students. This is achieved through the depletion of cognitive resources or through competition for representational space (Craik, 2014). The purpose of the study is to determine the influence that distractions have on task performance. This is important because it offers insights that can help students prepare for examinations by adopting strategies to sustain attention and school administration to reduce the distractions in examination rooms.
Literature Review
Numerous studies have been done to determine the influence of distraction on task performance. The increase in the task completion time was highlighted by Goodell, Cao and Schwaitzberg (2006) during laparoscopic surgery. Greifeneder (2015) performed a study in which they explored how completion scores were affected by distraction in a test situation. The researchers used a quasi-experimental approach where they had experimental and control groups. The researchers found that the participants who were allocated to the experimental group (natural environment) had a higher task completion tome compared to the participants in the control group. The researchers found that distractions resulting from human contact resulted in the most significant increase in task completion times. A study by Hemond, Brown and Robertson (2010) reported both negative and positive effects of distractions on the motor performance of an individual. This is a corroboration of the theorists on distraction-conflict that the effects can either be positive or negative.
Theoretical Considerations
The distraction-conflict theory is the main theory upon which the study is based. The theory was developed by Baron, Moore & Sanders (1978) who proposed that the presence of an audience resulted in more distraction for an individual performing a task compared to a scenario where he was working in isolation. Baron, Moore & Sanders (1978) also found that the distractions has a positive effect on performance when an individual was performing simple tasks and a negative effect when the individual was performing complex tasks.
Research Question and Hypothesis
The research question guiding the is how distraction affects tasks performance. The study will test both the null and alternative hypothesis. The hypothesis to be tested are as follows.
H0: There is no statistically significant difference in the task completion times of the participants in the natural environment and in the controlled environment.
H1: There is a statistically significant difference in the task completion times of the participants in the natural environment and in the controlled environment.
H0: There is no statistically significant difference in the task scores of the participants in the natural environment and in the controlled environment.
H1: There is a statistically significant difference in the task scores of the participants in the natural environment and in the controlled environment.
Research Design
The study will adopt a quantitative research methodology and the quasi-experimental research design. The quasi experimental design is appropriate because it allows the researcher to manipulate the environment to tests the effect of the distractions on the study variables (Sreejesh, Mohapatra & Anusree, 2014). The independent variable in the study is the distraction while the dependent variables are the task completion times and task scores. Twenty participants will be randomly assigned in the control and experimental group each. The participants in both groups will be given similar tasks to complete. However, the participants in the experimental group will be subjected to different distractions. The researcher will measure the average task completion times and the task scores for both groups to determine the effect of the distractions on the dependent variables.
References
Baron, R., Moore, D. and Sanders, G. (1978). Social Facilitation: Drive Theory, Evaluation Apprehension, Distraction Conflict. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 36(8): 816-824.
Craik, F. (2014). Effects of distraction on memory and cognition: a commentary. Frontiers in Psychology. 5: 841.
Goodell, K., Cao, C. and Schwaitzberg, S. (2006). Effects of cognitive distraction on performance of laparoscopic surgical tasks. Journal of Laparoendoscopic and Advanced Surgical Techniques. Part A. 16(2): 94-98.
Greifeneder, E. (2015). The effects of distraction on task completion scores in a natural environment test setting. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology. DOI: 10.1002/asi.23537
Hemond, C., Brown, R. and Robertson, E. (2010). A distraction can impair or enhance motor performance. Journal of Neuroscience. 30(2): 650.
Sreejesh, S., Mohapatra, S., & Anusree, M. R. (2014). Business research methods: An applied orientation. Cham. Springer,
