The additivity of the times for human motor response elements in a simulated industrial assembly task

Abstract

The aim was an "attempt to resolve the differences and extend the applicability of the additivity concept to more complex motion patterns which might be expected to influence the interaction of the motion elements composing it." Time measurements were made in a light manual assembly task requiring 16 motion elements in the incomplete cycle for 16 male Ss. The results indicated "total incomplete cycle times predicted from data obtained in the complete cycle did not differ significantly from times actually measured even though there was evidence of interactions among the motion elements and the variables of discrimination and hands-used (one-handed versus two-handed performance)." Additivity is thus concluded to be a valid concept. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)