| Abstract: | To determine correlates of the tendency to make errors of commission in a vigilance task, 31 Ss worked at a task of listening to recorded digits for 48 min and reported odd-even-odd digit sequences. Reports of “signals” where signals did not actually occur constituted commission errors. While S was engaged in the vigilance task skin conductance was continuously recorded. A measure of extra-version and neuroticism was available for each S. The tendency to make commission errors was associated with decrement in the detection of real signals over time, low GSR amplitude at detection points, and low initial orienting response. Commission errors were positively related to extraversion and unrelated to neuroticism. It was concluded that commission errors are made by Ss who are low in arousal level, subject to vigilance decrement, and likely to score higher on extra-version. |
