title: Age and distraction by telephone conversation in task performance: implications for use of cellular telephones while driving.
abstract: Predicted to diminish task performance were (a) distraction by telephone conversation and (b) older age. 38 participants pointed to letters on a randomized or alphabetized letter matrix during distraction by telephone conversation or no distraction. In a within-subjects design, telephone conversation negatively affected completion time but there were no age differences. Implications for cellular telephone use while driving are discussed.
authors.affiliation: California State University, Bakersfield, USA.
authors.forename: Laramée
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lyda
authors.forename: Virginia M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Osborne
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rienzi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001288:Attention; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D040421:Cell Phone; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011340:Problem Solving; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time