Title: The effects of time availability and task complexity on human performance in database query tasks
Abstract: One important element of utilization of corporate data resources is ad hoc data retrieval, i.e., the use of database query languages to retrieve information not provided by preprogrammed reports. Prior research on human ability to write database queries has concentrated on the characteristics of query interfaces and the complexity of the task. This study controlled the aspects of the query interface and focused on the amount of time that was available for writing the queries--a characteristic of the task context--together with task complexity.
Prior research on problem solving, time pressure, and goal setting was integrated into a theoretical model of the effects of time availability on performance in cognitive problem solving tasks, in general, and database query writing tasks, in particular. In this model, these effects were divided into two main categories: first, the effects of task complexity/information load, time availability, and individual's knowledge and skills on task difficulty; and second, the effects of perceived time availability, perceived task importance, and task difficulty on the level of arousal. Task difficulty and arousal level were hypothesized to affect task performance together with self-efficacy and subject's task strategy (correctness vs. speed).
A laboratory experiment with novice student subjects tested a set of propositions that were based on the proposed theoretical model by investigating the relationships between three independent variables (time availability, task complexity, and task strategy) and various aspects of performance in query writing tasks. Contrary to expectations, when performance measures were adjusted by the time used to perform the task, time availability did not have any effects on performance. Task complexity had a strong impact on performance at all time availability levels. Strategy was found to affect the speed at which the subjects wrote the queries, but not the correctness nor the overall performance. Task complexity and correctness were found to be the main determinants of confidence. In addition to hypothesis testing, exploratory analyses were performed to investigate the proposed mediating relationships between the theoretical constructs, as well as the effects of time availability and task complexity on various types of query writing errors.
Publication Year: 1995
Publication Date: 1995-01-01
Language: en
Type: book
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Cited By Count: 3
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