Workload Transition: A Neglected Phenomenon

The Committee on Human Factors of the National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council has five central objectives: (1) to advise its sponsors regarding the most important basic research needs in the field and to provide guidance on methods for investigating such problems; (2) to explore the state of knowledge in areas judged to be of particular importance as a basis for the development of detailed research agendas in these areas; (3) to provide a mechanism for encouraging contact and communication among basic and applied researchers in the field; (4) to interest both younger and senior scientists outside the field of human factors engineering in conducting basic research relevant to major theoretical and methodological issues; and (5) to respond to requests from its sponsors for advice on specific problems or issues relating to their research programs. In 1988, the U.S. Army Human Engineering Laboratory approached the Committee with a request to undertake a project to examine the performance effects of changes in workload.