This study was designed to validate a short-duration sustained visual search task for the assessment of sustained attention in process control environments. The task consists of 10 short dynamic scenarios, which require participants (N = 121) to monitor simulated operating power transmission interfaces, and identify system faults. A vigilance decrement was demonstrated throughout the sustained visual search task, as evident in increased response latencies and decreased accuracy over time. Further, changes in response latency throughout the sustained visual search task were positively associated with changes in response latency during a 30-min, low signal probability task, a 45-min low signal probability task, and a 45-min high signal probability task. The findings indicate that the sustained visual search task may be a valid alternative to a longer-duration process control task for experimental studies, and is likely to be of value for assessments of the capacity for sustained attention of operators in process control environments.

本研究旨在验证短期持续视觉搜索任务，以评估过程控制环境中的持续注意力。该任务包含10个简短的动态方案，需要参与者（N = 121）来监视模拟的工作电源传输接口，并确定系统故障。在整个持续的视觉搜索任务中均表现出警惕性下降，这表现为响应延迟增加，准确性随时间降低。此外，在整个持续的视觉搜索任务中，响应潜伏期的变化与30分钟，低信号概率任务，45分钟低信号概率任务和45分钟高信号概率任务期间的响应潜伏期的变化呈正相关。研究结果表明，持续的视觉搜索任务可能是实验研究中较长时间的过程控制任务的有效替代方法，并且可能对于评估过程控制环境中操作员的持续关注能力具有重要意义。