In railway network control centres, operators must manage multiple high-density information feeds, where poorly designed interfaces can lead to cognitive distraction and performance errors. An ergonomics researcher conducted a survey to identify which single cognitive ergonomic factor operators found most distracting during their shifts. A sample of 500 operators participated in the study.
The table below displays the frequency of responses across six different cognitive ergonomic factors.
Table: Primary cognitive ergonomic distractions identified by control room operators
| Redundant auditory alarms | Flashing status lights | Complex menu navigation | Background radio traffic | Display glare | Poorly structured text alerts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day shift operators | 45 | 35 | 55 | 50 | 30 | 35 |
| Night shift operators | 65 | 40 | 35 | 30 | 55 | 25 |
Calculate the overall percentage of participants who reported 'Redundant auditory alarms' as being the most distracting cognitive ergonomic factor. Show your workings.
23 exam-style questions on OCR A Level Psychology Ergonomics – human factors (Cognitive). Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.