RU2138199C1 - METHOD OF ASSESSMENT OF EFFICIENCY OF MAN PSYCHICAL FUNCTIONS AND EMOTIONAL STABILITY (Alpha-test VI - Google Patents

Abstract

ZI. ES). FIELD: medicine, particularly, experimental psychology; applicable in study and assessment of peculiarities of man cognition processes and emotional and volitional sphere. SUBSTANCE: light signals on target are offered in several versions and varying sequence and frequency. Person under examination identifies the signals and transfers target signal coordinates to table having sign system. Percentage of hits and misses, time of response and tremor are registered, and obtained results and their relations are used for assessment of efficiency of psychical functions and emotional stability. EFFECT: higher accuracy and objectivity of assessment of psychical functions and emotional stability of man. 7 cl, 4 dwg

Description

 The proposed method relates to the field of experimental psychology and can be used to study and evaluate the features of the course of cognitive processes and the emotional-volitional sphere of a person artificially placed in the conditions of testing in extreme situations. This method can be used as a diagnostic and training for specialists working in the field of extreme loads, for example, to diagnose the mental status of pilots, divers, fighters of special units to combat organized crime, etc.

 The method makes it possible to judge the professionalism and effectiveness of the performing actions of the subjects.

 Various methods for determining the psychophysical state of a person are widely known. For example, "A method for determining the level of emotional stress" / see A.S. N 654249, BI N 12, 1979 /, "Method of psychophysiological study of man" / see A.S. N 944538, BI N 27, 1982 /, "A method for evaluating the volitional management of hand-eye coordination of hands" / see A.S. N 1887786, BI N 40, 1985 /, "Method for assessing the functional state of the visual analyzer, see AS N 1232215, BI N 48, 1987 /," Method for determining the psychological type of personality "/ see a. S. N 1377036, BI N 8, 1988 /, "Method for assessing the emotional state of a person" / see AS N 1567192, BI N 20, 1990 / and others.

 Closest to the claimed is the "Method for evaluating the volitional management of hand-eye coordination of hands", and.with. N 1187786, BI N 40, 1985. This method consists in presenting the target and assessing the accuracy of the hit. To quantify the volitional control of hand-motor hand coordination, measure the module of three-dimensional interval tremor before presenting the target and 3-5 seconds before it hits the target and evaluate volitional control by the ratio of the measured values.

 This invention may be applicable for the professional selection of performers, since the degree of volitional control is determined by hand coordination. However, this assessment is carried out according to only one indicator - tremor, which does not make it possible to fully and objectively evaluate the productivity of mental functions and the emotional stability of the subject.

 The aim of the invention is to expand the functionality of the method and increase its accuracy and objectivity in assessing the professionalism of executive actions of subjects in extreme conditions, as well as the possibility of comparing data for each subject in dynamics.

 To achieve this goal, when presenting a series of visual stimuli behind the target, it is proposed to use light signals / flashes / as these stimuli, and present them in several stages with different variants of presentation frequency and sequence according to topography.

 The test subject is asked to identify each step first visually - on the model of the target, then sign - on the tables, translating the coordinates of the target into sign systems, for example, glasses - hour angles, or removal - angular degrees.

 The presentation of stimuli may be accompanied by additional sound and light interference.

 The interval for the presentation of light signals can vary from 15 s to 1 s, and the duration of one test in this case is from 6 minutes to 40 s.

 The evaluation of the productivity of mental functions is carried out by the computer reflecting the identification results in the form of tables, graphs, charts, etc. , and emotional stability - according to the reflection on the computer cursor of the test subject’s arm during testing, which is also presented in the form of graphs.

 The test data is stored for comparative analysis of the state of the subject in dynamics.

 The proposed features of the method are significant, because the expansion of the types and options for presenting stimuli and methods for their assessment allows more accurately and objectively assess the productivity of mental functions and emotional stability of the subject.

 In FIG. 1 shows a General view of the installation for implementing the proposed method.

 In FIG. 2 is a blank card with a mock target, and in FIG. 3, 4 - blank identification symbol cards: FIG. 3 hours, FIG. 4 - degree.

 Installation / Fig. 1 / consists of a simulator 1, including a target 3 located on a tripod 2, equipped with LEDs connected to the flash generator 4.

 Simulator 1 is connected to computer 5.

 The workplace of the subject is a table 6, equipped with a computer tablet 7, which is a device for graphically entering information into computer 5.

 The computer tablet 7 is equipped with headphones 8.

 A set of blank forms for a computer tablet 7 consists of a blank of the mock-up of the target 9 and blanks of the sign identification tables: hour - 10 / Fig. 2 / and degree - 11 / Fig. 3 /.

 The pencil 12 is intended for reflection on flash cards presented on the target 1 flashes / light signals /.

 Installation works as follows.

 The psychologist chooses a specific version of the program according to the frequency of presentations and the topology of the light signals and includes the installation.

 Flashes appear on the target 3 of the simulator 1 in different places, which the subject must identify on the proposed blank card inserted in the tablet 7, touching with a pencil 12 the corresponding place on the model of the target 9, or the corresponding coordinates in tables 10 or 11.

 The control of the simulator 1 is placed on the control system in computer 3, adapted for the work of a psychologist.

Test stages:
Stage VI - visual identification of the location of the signal.

 Figurative / visual / identification is done according to the blank form 9 of FIG. 2.

 On the target 3 of simulator 1, a certain point is highlighted / presented / LED, the location of which the subject identifies on the target blank card inserted into the computer tablet 7.

 Testing can take place with different speed of presentation of signals / intervals between light signals / flashes / - from 15 s to 1 s /. However, the most common is testing with an interval of 5 s and 7 s and a duration of 3 min 41 s and 4 min 3 s, respectively.

 In one test embodiment, typically 35-50 light signals are presented.

 The test subject may be presented with several versions of programs for presenting light signals both in terms of presentation speed and sequence / topography options /.

 Searching pencil movements are marked with a cursor on a computer screen. If there is a hit, the computer indicates how many seconds it occurred. If the reaction delay is longer than the selected interval, the display shows a "timeout".

 Test data are also shown in the graph on a time-to-show scale. At the same time, the percentage of hits and misses is reflected. The same data can be presented in the form of diagrams, tables, etc.

 All test results are entered into the computer’s memory, including, except for tables, graphs, and other data, the search and performing actions of the test subject are a reflection of cursor oscillations on the target. These data can be repeatedly reproduced for expert control of the productivity of visual identification of a particular subject.

 Tables, graphs, diagrams demonstrate the characteristics of the subject’s ability to work / you can judge the productivity of mental functions, for example, attention, perception, etc. /, as well as the features of fatigue, which is also reflected in the chart / or chart /.

 In real time, the percentage of the ratio of the number of hits, misses and “timeouts” is reflected and the test result is monitored: minimum, maximum and average success. Data is fixed on a constant field with changing fields, allowing you to enter the code of the subject, his name in the database.

 The program has, for example, three different sequences for turning on the LEDs on the target for a larger number of test variations.

 The computer sets the interval / frequency / presentations and the complexity of the task, that is, the allowable radius of the hit. In total, for example, three types of complexity are provided: low, medium, high. The computer compares the accuracy of the hit by the subject’s hit on the target.

 The method allows to determine the individual specificity of the correlated and performing actions of the subject.

 ZI stages - sign identification of signal location.

 ZI-1 - symbolic identification by time sectors and points.

 In the computer tablet 7, insert the second blank card - 10 / Fig. 3 /, on which it is necessary to indicate the coordinates of the light signal at a distance from the center of the target to the periphery / points from 10 - the center to 5 = periphery / and the direction along the clock sectors / from 1 to 12 hours / and determine the location of the light signal.

 In this test variant, only the presentation frequency / is specified from 15 s to 1 s /, by which the complexity parameters of the task are determined.

 The test subject moves a pencil over the glasses and clocks shown in the table. That is, two coordinates are fixed, each of which can be reflected only once, without corrections. The sequence of entering coordinates is arbitrary.

 The results by analogy with the first option are reflected in tables, graphs, charts and general data, reflecting the percentage of the ratio of hits, misses, “timeouts” and reaction time.

 In this experiment, the speed and accuracy of the correlation of the test visual images with the sign system reflecting the topographical place of the appearance of the light signal are studied, which makes it possible to judge the features of the mental actions of the test person / by the speed and accuracy of identification of the sample - the light signal with a given sign system /.

 ZI-2 - sign identification by the angle of the signal.

A third blank card 11 / FIG. Is inserted into the tablet. 4 /, on which it is necessary to indicate the coordinates of the light signal at a distance from the center of the target to the periphery / from 1 to 360 ^o /. The test subject needs to determine the coordinates of the light signal according to two parameters: the distance from the center to the periphery and the increase in the angle — clockwise increase to 360 ^o / similar to that adopted in marine instruments and aviation /.

 In this test version, only the frequency of presentations is also set, as in stage ZI-1.

 Further, the experimental situation is reproduced by analogy with ZI-1.

 Sign identification by the clock sectors of the signal location allows you to study the lability of nervous processes, mental actions when replacing sign systems.

 Stage VI.ZI in conditions of sensory deprivation.

 The tests are carried out with sensory / auditory / deprivation - sound simulation of shots reproduced using headphones.

 All stages of the above examinations are repeated with the imposition of auditory deprivation.

 On the computer display, research indicators without deprivation and with deprivation are viewed, the comparison of which allows you to determine changes in orienting and executive activities during visual and symbolic identification, as well as to monitor the characteristics of emotional stability, which are monitored during the performance process.

 ES - emotional stability.

 Emotional stability is determined by the nature of orienting and performing actions / cursor movement in the range from solid arm movement to tremor, its value /.

 Emotional stability is also determined by verbal / verbal / utterances and emotional reactions to the result of performing activities / success - failure /. Verbalization / dubbing / of the performance process is an indicator of emotional tension as well as bodily indicators of movement and interjection.

 Emotional stability is also determined by indicators of hit, misses, “time-outs” by the amplitude of the curve on the graph in the coordinates of time-hit. The magnitude of the amplitude of the curve demonstrates emotional tension through the success and failure of the activity.

 Tests on the proposed method were 115 people, of whom 75 adults - soldiers of special forces and 40 teenagers of senior school age.

As a result of the tests, the following indicators were determined:
- the psychological status of the subject / high reflection - low reflection /,
- social and psychological maturity - social and psychological infantilism / demonstrativeness, etc. /,
- confidence / calm, measured performance of the task / - uncertainty,
- high reaction rate / up to 3 s / - relatively low reaction rate / from 3 s /,
- quick search / indicative / actions / up to 3 s /, relatively long search / indicative / actions / from 3 s /,
- high, medium, low accuracy of falling into a given stimulus,
- high volitional organization - low volitional organization,
- high workability - low workability,
- high working capacity / low fatigue / - low working capacity / high fatigue /,
- stress tolerance - stress tolerance,
- high achievement motivation - low achievement motivation,
- emotional stability - emotional instability,
- concentrated attention, high volume of attention - distracted attention, low volume of attention,
- noise immunity - noise immunity,
- high performance / more than 80% /, average performance / more than 60 - 80% /, low performance / less than 60% /,
- productive adaptability when changing incentives - unproductive adaptability when changing incentives: increased rigidity / pronounced reaction of consequences when changing incentives: figurative - significant / hourly / - significant / degree /,
- high learning ability - low learning ability,
- psychological involvement in performing activities - psychological non-inclusion in performing activities / dominate: emotions, uncertainty about success, emotions about failure to complete a previous task /,
- lability of inhibitory processes when changing stimulus effects - inertia of inhibitory processes when changing stimulus effects / tendency to complete the initiated actions /,
- the role of the word - a positive reaction to verbal support - the effective impact of the team / defining meaning of the word mobilizing the will: "Do not relax!", "Attention!", "Control!" and etc./,
- the role of the word - verbalization of correlating and performing actions / regression of automatism, inclusion of indicative and performing actions with the assistance of autonomous speech support /.

 Using the proposed method allows to obtain reliable and sufficiently complete information about the productivity of mental functions and emotional stability, which is very important for evaluating people who have to work in extreme conditions and during their training and immediately before assigning him certain tasks. Taking into account individual characteristics and the psychophysical state allows the selection of performers who are able to best solve the tasks.

Claims (7)

 1. A method for evaluating the productivity of mental functions and emotional stability of a person, including presenting a series of visual stimuli on a target and assessing the accuracy of their identification, characterized in that the visual stimuli use light signals presented in several versions, in a varying sequence and with a varying frequency, which the subject identifies by translating the coordinates of the target signal to a table containing a sign system, while recording the percentage of hits and misses, the time ktsii, tremor, and the ratio of the values obtained evaluate the productivity of mental functions and emotional stability.  2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the intervals of presentation vary in the range of 15 - 1 s, and the duration of one option is from 6 minutes to 40 seconds. 3. The method according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the sign system is presented in terms of "glasses-hours", where the glasses count from 10 - the center of the target to 5 - its periphery, and the clock on the dial - from 0 to 12 and " removal-degrees ", where the removal is counted from 0 - the center of the target to 10 - its periphery, and degrees in angular degrees from 0 to 360 ^o .  4. The method according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the presentation of stimuli is accompanied by sound and light noise, and also carried out in conditions of sensory deprivation.  5. The method according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that for sign identification evaluate the speed and accuracy of correlation of visual images with the topographic location of the presentation of the light signal.  6. The method according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that for visual identification evaluate the speed and accuracy of correlation of visual images with the topographic location of the light signal in conditions of sensory deprevation.  7. The method according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that emotional stability is assessed by the amount of tremor and emotional reactions of the test subject, as well as by indicators of hits and misses.

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