The effects of auditory and visuo-spatial secondary tasks on lane maintenance in predictable and unpredictable driving conditions

---

Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Fen Edebiyat Fakültesi, Psikoloji Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2015

Tezin Dili: İngilizce

Öğrenci: SEDA ÖZBOZDAĞLI

Asıl Danışman (Eş Danışmanlı Tezler İçin): Mine Mısırlısoy, Türker Özkan

Özet:

The present study investigated the effects of auditory and visuo-spatial secondary tasks on variability in lane position in predictable and unpredictable driving conditions. The study also aimed to explore the impacts of perceived driving skills and safety skills on driving performance. Sixty-six participants filled out the Driver Skill Inventory and drove a simulated vehicle. Predictability was manipulated by adding wind gusts and secondary task load was manipulated by an auditory delayed digit recall n-back task or a visuo-spatial n back task. Results demonstrated that in the predictable driving condition, load decreased lane position variability in the auditory condition, however in the visuo-spatial condition; there was no significant difference in lane positioning between the no-load and the load conditions. In the unpredictable driving condition, there was no significant difference in lane positioning between the no-load and the load conditions in the auditory condition while, in the visuo-spatial condition, load increased lane position variability. Drivers from both auditory and visuo-spatial groups with low perceived driving skills showed the highest variability in lane position in all conditions. Results were discussed on the basis of distracted driving literature, Hierarchical Control Theory, and Working Memory Model