Subjective Workload Assessment Technique (SWAT)
This scale has additional, shortened versions that are not currently included in this database. See comments for more information.
Construct Summary
The authors aimed to develop a measure to measure mental workload. They define workload as consisting of three main factors: time load, mental effort load, and psychological stress load. Time load refers to time available and task overlap, mental effort load refers to mental capacity and includes factors such as task difficulty, complexity, and effort, and psychological stress load refers to anything that contributes to an operators confusion, frustration, or anxiety.
Rating = 46%
| Check? | Guideline Item |
|---|---|
| ✓ | Is the construct defined? |
| ✓ | Does the final version of the items capture the construct as it has been defined by the authors? |
| ✓ | Is the item generation process discussed (e.g., literature review, Delphi method, crowd-sourcing)? |
| ✖ | Person to items 10:1 for the initial set of items? |
| ✖ | Did they perform an EFA, PCA, Rasch, or similar test to determine the item to factor relationship? |
| ✖ | Did they describe how they determined number of factors? |
| ✓ | Did they report the full initial set of items? |
| ✖ | Did they provide loadings (EFA) or item fits (Rasch) of all items? |
| NA | Is there a description of the item removal process (e.g., using infit/outfit, factor loading minimum value, or cross-loading values)? |
| ✓ | Did they list the final items included in the scale? |
| ✖ | Did they include a factor structure test (e.g., second EFA, CFA, DIF, test for unidimensionality when using Rasch, or similar)? |
| ✖ | Was a measure of reliability (e.g., Cronbach’s alpha, McDonalds Omega_h or Omega_t, Tarkkonen’s Rho) reported? |
| ✓ | Was a test of validity (e.g., predictive, concurrent, convergent, discriminant) reported? |
Comments Score reflects assessment only on the Likert scale analysis reported in the paper. The initial conjoint scaling procedure outlined in the paper is a somewhat outdated approach to measurement (though it was the best available approach at the time of publication). To find more information on the shortened versions see Luximon & Goonetilleke (2001).
Reviewed by Experts ✓
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PAPER
Reid, G. B., & Nygren, T. E. (1988). The subjective workload assessment technique: A scaling procedure for measuring mental workload. In Advances in psychology (Vol. 52, pp. 185-218). North-Holland.
PDF of instructions for administration and score not readily available. Check the paper for more details or email hriscaledatabase@gmail.com to submit this information if you are the author of this scale.
Final Scale Items (3 total):
Time load
1. Often have spare time. Interruptions of overlap among activities occur infrequently or not at all.
2. Occaisionally have spare time. Interruptions or overlap among activities occur frequently.
3. Almost never have spare time. Interruptions or overlap among activities are very frequent, or occur all the time.
Mental Effort Load
1. Very little conscious mental effort or concentration required. Activity is almost automatic, requiring little or no attention.
2. Moderate conscious mental effort or concentration required. Complexity of activity is moderately high due to uncertainty, unpredictability, or unfamiliarity. Considerable attention required.
3.Extensive mental effort and concentration are necessary. Very complex activity requiring total attention.
Psychological Stress Load
1. Little confusion, risk, frustration, or anxiety exists and can be easily accomodated.
2. Moderate stress due to confusion, frustration, or anxiety noticeably adds to workload. Significant compensation is required to maintain adequate performance.
3. High to very intense stress due to confusion, frustration, or anxiety. High to extreme determination and self-control required.