Human Performance: Cognition, Stress and Individual Differences [Hardcover]

D. Roy Davies (Author), Gerald Matthews (Author), Rob B. Stammers (Author), Steve J. Westerman (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0415044065 | ISBN-13: 978-0415044066 | Publication Date: October 20, 2000 | Edition: 1

Human Performance provides the student and researcher with a comprehensive and accessible review of performance, in the real world and essential cognitive science theory.
Four main sections cover both theoretical and practical issues: Section One outlines the perspectives on performance offered by contemporary cognitive science, including information processing and neuroscience perspectives.
Section Two presents a multi-level view of the performer as biological organism, information-processor and intentional agent. It reviews the development of the cognitive theory of performance through experimental studies and also looks at practical issues such as human error.
Section Three reviews the impact of stress factors such as noise, fatigue and illness on performance. Section Four assesses individual and group differences in performance with accounts of ability, personality and aging.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'It was a pleasure to read this book. It deals with relatively complex subject matter in an easy-to-read, practical style. It is evident that the authors have an underlying desire to inform rather than impress, yet the book is impressive because of their approach. I would recommend this book as essential reading for any psychology student or professional working in the field.' - Ergonomics Abstracts

'Matthews and his fellow authors have done an excellent job of providing the reader with well-informed and thought-provoking accounts of the current state of knowledge with respect to the ways in which numerous stressors influence human cognition and performance. That is a significant achievement given the substantial research literature that has built up with respect to many of the findings.' - Contemporary Psychology: An American Psychological Association journal

About the Author

Gerald Mathews is Associate Professor in Psychology at the University of Cincinnati. D. Roy Davies is Reader in Experimental Psycholgy at Aston University. Stephen J. Westerman is a lecturer at the Psycholgy Institute at Aston university. Rob B. Stammers is the Professor of Occupational Psychology at Leicester University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Psychology Press; 1 edition (October 20, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415044065
• ISBN-13: 978-0415044066
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,775,618 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gerald Matthews was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is now Professor of Psychology at the University of Cincinnati. He is interested in how cognitive science may be used to make sense of personality, emotion and other expressions of human irrationality and rationality. He has received book awards from the British Psychological Society and the American Publishers Association. He is currently President-Elect of the International Society for the Study of Individual Differences, and President of the Traffic and Transportation Division of the International Society for the Study of Individual Differences. His current research interests include highlighting the dangers of fatigue in the automated vehicle, seeking the intelligence in "emotional intelligence", and investigating relationships between personality, mood and cognitive control.