Performance enhancement in a semi-autonomous confined microsociety |
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Authors: | Joseph V Brady PhD Daniel J Bernstein PhD Richard W Foltin PhD Margaret J Nellis PhD |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Behavioral Biology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, 21205, Baltimore, MD 2. University of Nebraska, USA
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Abstract: | Research in a continuously programmed human experimental laboratory has been directed toward identifying, defining, and expanding
generalized knowledge concerning motivational factorswithin the structure of human behavioral repertoires that maintain and enhance performance. Participants (in groups of three) engaged
in a series of repetitive work activities (e.g., word sorting and rug-hooking) for extended periods each day, while living continuously in a residential laboratory. Other
parts of the day were spent either interacting socially with other participants or engaging in individual recreational activities.
The percentage of time devoted to the various work tasks provided the basis for selecting one activity that occurred with
high frequency and one with low frequency. Performance of the low-frequency activity was then required in order to gain access
to the high-frequency activity. Under such contingencies, time devoted to the original low-frequency activity increased greatly,
and the participants consistently did more than the required amount of the low-frequency work than was necessary to restore
access to the restricted work activity. The theoretical significance of these findings resides in the clear demonstration
that a time-based model of value applies as well to the enhancement of work-like performance as it does to voluntarily selected
or preferred recreational activities.
Supported by Grant NASA (NAG 2-139) from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. |
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