Browsing by Author "Burkolter, Dina"

In the present article, we aim to provide guidelines on how to conduct research for the enhancement of training for cognitive readiness (CR). After distinguishing between trainable CR skills and stable person-related variables, CR components that are trainable need to be defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and attitudes, and person-related variables need to be selected as prerequisites for training success, as they define the composite construct of CR. Training success in turn needs to include indicators of successful performance in unpredictable environments after training of CR that operationalizes temporal and adaptive transfer. We suggest a basic module for training-of-CR research, which includes a pretest measuring the baseline of the participants' knowledge, skills, and attitudes; person-related variables as control variables; predictors and moderators of CR training success; and two posttests for the assessment of training performance directly after training and following a retention interval for both temporal and adaptive transfer. For further research, we suggest extending the basic module with research on spacing of practice, performance under stress, and individual differences in cognition and personality. This research will enhance the understanding of the interplay between person- and training-related variables that best predicts the prerequisites for establishing and sustaining competent performance in complex and stressful environments.

With online shopping entering a consolidation phase, there is a need for research differentiating online consumer behavior for a range of prod-uct categories. Also, individual differences in online shopping need to be considered. Therefore, a survey (N = 405) assessing online infor-mation search and online shopping for nine different product categories as well as socio-demographic and individual variables (shopping orien-tation, need for emotion, and fashion leadership) was conducted in Germany. Results showed significant differences in online information search as well as shopping regarding gender, status of employment, and education. Moreover, individual variables were differently related to online shopping behavior. Findings are discussed with respect to the future development of the internet as well as scientific and practical in-sights.

Human factors and ergonomics research could benefit from focusing more strongly on individual differences - especially trait variables. The present study suggests the analysis of moderator effects as a promising way to enhance understanding of trait variables and process control performance. Process control performance was studied by analysing moderator effects of general mental ability (GMA) and need for cognition (NC) on risky decision-making (RDM) and performance. Fifty engineering students were trained on a process control task using a computer-based simulation for three hours and tested twice thereafter. Risky decision-making was measured using a computerised gambling task while GMA and NC were assessed with questionnaires. Risky decision-making in interaction with each GMA and NC explained variance in performance over and above variance explained by the single effects. In conclusion, the analysis of moderator effects between individual difference variables and process control performance seems promising.