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A Rational Curve Relating Length of Rest Period and Length of Subsequent Work Period for an Ergographic Experiment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2025

Ledyard R Tucker
Ledyard R Tucker*
Affiliation:
Princeton University and Educational Testing Service
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Abstract

A rational function is developed relating the length of a rest period and length of subsequent work period in an ergographic situation. Simple energistic postulates are used for a critical organ or neuromuscular structure whose failure to perform adequately results in a stoppage of the work period. Experimental results for two subjects using a finger ergograph indicate that the function yields the general trend of the data but that there seem to be some systematic deviations of the data from the present rational function. One parameter determined from the data represents rate of recovery from moderate fatigue. It is hoped that this development will aid in studies of motor functions as related to such other variables as age, motivation, and effects of drugs.

Type
Original Paper
Information
Psychometrika , Volume 20 , Issue 1 , March 1955 , pp. 51 - 61
Copyright
Copyright © 1955 The Psychometric Society

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Footnotes

*

This research was jointly supported in part by Princeton University and the Office of Naval Research under contract N6onr 270-20.

References

Féré, Charles. Travail et plaisir, Paris: Felix Alcan, 1904Google Scholar
Manzer, C. W. An experimental investigation of rest pauses. Arch. Psychol., 1927, 90, 1–84Google Scholar
Yochelson, S. Effects of rest-pauses on work decrement. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Yale University, 1930.Google Scholar