A Multivariate Test Battery for Predicting Vigilance

It has proved difficult to predict individual differences in vigilance from standard psychometric tests. We report a study that explored the utility of a multivariate battery in predicting vigilance on a task requiring monitoring of a tactical display. A two-phase design was employed. Participants performed a short vigilance task (SVT) prior to the longer criterion monitoring task. We investigated the predictive ability of cognitive ability, personality, performance on the SVT, and stress responses to the SVT. Four versions of the criterion task were used, to test generalization of predictive validity. Key predictors of vigilance were found to include ability, SVT performance, and subjective task engagement and coping. Multiple regression analyses suggested that together these predictors explained about 30% of the variance in vigilance (with some differences for prediction of different task versions). Results are discussed in relation to the resource theory of vigilance, and the practical issues arising from selecting vigilant operators.