Trait and state predictors of error detection accuracy in a simulated quality control task

This study examined whether personality traits or mood and workload states are more predictive of detection accuracy in a simulated quality control task mimicking prescription checking in a pharmacy. Ninety-one undergraduate volunteers checked 80 simulated scripts for accuracy in a basic task environment with error rates ranging from 26% to 38%. Four dimensions of perceived workload and three task-related mood factors were assessed multiple times during the task, and several theoretically relevant personality traits were measured before the simulation. Performance was measured using hit rate and false alarm ratios. Results suggested that trait factors were more predictive of hit ratios in this study than were measures of task-related mood and perceived workload. Implications and future research directions are discussed.