Team performance as a function of team arrangement and work load

Abstract

32 PAIRS OF MALE UNDERGRADUATES SERVED AS RADAR CONTROLLERS IN A SIMULATED APPROACH CONTROL TASK, AND WERE REQUIRED TO ALTERNATE IN DIRECTING AIRCRAFT APPROACHES. PRESCRIBED APPROACH RATE WAS 1/MIN (HIGH WORK LOAD) OR EVERY 2 MIN. (LOW WORK LOAD). S COULD COMPENSATE FOR HIS PARTNER'S EARLY OR LATE APPROACHES IN COMPENSATORY BUT NOT IN NONCOMPENSATORY TEAMS. EACH TEAM COMPLETED 4 SESSIONS. STANDARDIZED ALGEBRAIC AVERAGE OF APPROACH TIMES WAS CLOSER TO CRITERION IN COMPENSATORY TEAMS, PARTICULARLY UNDER LOW LOAD. UNDER HIGH LOAD FEWER FLIGHT ERRORS OCCURRED IN COMPENSATORY TEAMS. TEAM COMMUNICATION INHIBITED PERFORMANCE ONLY IN THE NONCOMPENSATORY HIGH LOAD CONDITIONS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT SOME TEAM FUNCTIONS HINDER, OTHERS ENHANCE, TEAM OUTPUT. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)