A group of psychological techniques was aimed to analyze the impact of
professional activity on operators` mental functions connected with receiving,
processing, storage and playback of information. Some methods of studying memory,
attention and processes of thinking were used to investigate the commitment of the
mental functions. Memorization of numbers and their further reproduction were used
to study memory.
Tables and proofreading tests were used to study attention levels. Characteristics
of distribution (d) and concentration (co) of attention were determined. A concentration
level was calculated due to the proof tests by the formula 1[7]:
co
=(0,5436∙−2.807∙)
⁄),
(1)
Хco– the level of attention concentration (information processing rate, bit/s); N
– the number of proofreading test signs seen for an hour Т; n – the number of missed
or mistakenly crossed out signs for an hour Т.
The distribution of attention was estimated by the operating time (Тo) with the
first ten pairs of numbers from the black and red table. The quantity
Х
=К
Т
⁄
,
where
К
is the normalizing coefficient, was used to characterize the distribution of
attention (Хd).
The time of the row numbers addition (Тth) was used to estimate the indicators of
thinking in the formula 2[7]. It was determined as a sum of the time for the task
solution (Тthp) and the “penal” one (Тthp), which was equal to the difference module
of the received result (Сr) from the addition of simple quantities of the proposed
election numbers and the actual value (Сa),
Т
thp
=|С
−С
|, and Т
ℎ
=Т
ℎ
−Т
ℎ
(2)
The quantity
Х
ℎ
=К
ℎ
Т
ℎ
⁄
with the normalizing coefficient Kth= 100s was used
as the indicator of thinking. The characteristic of memory (Xm) was defined in points
as Хm = 5 – q, where q is the quantity of mistakes and number permutations at the
reproduction of the remembered number.
Reactive anxiety (RA) and personal anxiety (PA) were determined by the Charles
Spielberger and Yuri Hanin`s self-rating research technique.
The following sequence of testing was applied: cardiography, tremorometry,
dynamometry, number memorization (15 seconds of showing), proofreading test, red
and black table, number reproduction. The total operating time of each mentioned
methods allowed carrying out workplace examinations.
A special expert survey was used to assess the quality of the work. The operators`
activities were estimated by the experts on seven parameters - efficiency of the activity,
fulfillment of the process requirements and processing programs, quality of the ingot
production, quantity of the mistakes made while the activity, coordination measure of
control functions in the operator`s activity, control character of rolling mill drives and
operator`s attitude to the assigned work. The first six parameters describe operator`s
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