Examining task priority effects in multi-task management

The Strategic Task Overload Model (STOM) seeks to predict the choices of operators when they are confronted with multiple task options in an overloading situation. These situations characterize safety-critical incidents and work domains, such as a worker in a nuclear power plant or aircraft cockpit when multiple alarms sound, additional interruptions occur, and ongoing tasks must still be performed. Training and other safety considerations may instruct operators to "prioritize" certain tasks over others under these conditions, such as paying attention to the forward roadway while driving, instead of a passenger or a cell phone. However, priority may not exercise much power over the choice to switch tasks. Supporting prior data, the current experiment using a multi-task battery show priority instructions exerted no effect on the choice to switch task behavior; and in contrast to prior work, instructions also did not influence the time spent performing a prioritized task.