Vigilance research often utilizes training to prepare observers for the monotony associated with these types of tasks. Although performance benefits have been shown previously for training, little evidence exists for the subjective effects training for vigilance can impose. The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of two types of training, practice and knowledge of results (KR), on observers’ perceived levels of mental workload and stress. The study makes use of the NASA-TLX and Dundee Stress State Questionnaire (DSSQ) to measure these effects. The results indicate that observers benefit subjectively from both types of training, but in potentially different manners. We discuss the differences in the effects on mental workload and stress, as well as the potential impact on training for vigilance in the future.
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