INDEX OF THE PHYSICAL EFFORT REQUIRED IN HUMAN TASK-PERFORMANCE

Conducted 2 studies to examine the relationship between ratings of perceived physical effort required in human task performance and associated metabolic expenditure. In each study, tasks whose metabolic performance costs were known from the physical work assessment literature were rated on the effort required to complete the task by Ss who did not know the metabolic information. Results of the 1st study with 26 personnel specialists reveal that Ss could discriminate among tasks of known metabolic differences and that their ratings of the effort required in task performance were highly correlated with actual metabolic costs. The 2nd study replicated the procedures and results of the 1st study, using 26 male and 28 female untrained observers and examined sex differences in ratings of perceived effort. No rating sex differences were found beyond the level of chance. Results are discussed in terms of the development of an assessment index of the physical effort required in task performance. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1979 American Psychological Association.