Time-related behaviour in multitasking situations

Researchers have classified differing time-related behaviours as Monochronicity (M) and Polychronicity (P). The objective of this study was to evaluate control strategy and control performance differences between M and P persons in a process control domain. Forty-two people participated in an experimental study. Time-related behaviour was evaluated using the Modified Polychronic Attitude Index 3 (M/P score) scale. Each participant was asked to monitor and control two processes at the same time using the Control Stations software. A 2 (control system order)*5 (trials) factorial experiment was used. Performance was quantified using overall mean error and overall Root-Mean-Square (RMS) error. Control strategy was quantified using the number of switches between the two processes and the number of magnitude changes within each of the processes. Correlation and regression analyses showed that the M/P score was significantly correlated with the strategy variables and performance variables. When the participants were split into the three groups, M (M/P score greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 3), neutral (M/P score between 3 and 5) and P (M/P score greater than or equal to 5 and less than or equal to 7), there were significant differences in the performance and strategy measures among the three groups. The strategy variables indicated that monochrons attempted to control the two processes serially, while polychrons controlled both processes somewhat simultaneously. The neutral group was in-between the M and P see front matter r 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. .ijhcs.2005.01.002 nding author. Tel.: +852 2358 7109; fax: +852 2358 0062. dress: [email protected] (R.S. Goonetilleke).