The effects of pacing on complex decision-making inspection performance

The effects of time constraints in a complex decision-making inspection task were assessed utilizing a number of performance, physiological, and subjective measures. Twelve subjects were trained to classify a simulated product into one of four quality control categories, then tested on six pacing conditions varying in pacing speed and pacing rigidity. Subjects were able to maintain classification accuracy despite considerable variations in the time constraints of the task. The index of mental effort—heart rate variability—was the only measure which was found to be sensitive to the differences in pacing conditions. The subjective measures were not affected by pacing conditions but exhibited trends toward increasing postural discomfort, fatigue and boredom from the beginning to the end of each condition. A model of the inspector is tested which is based upon resource-limited models of human information processing.