Zenglein, Liv (2025) The Influence of Podcasts on Driving Performance in Complex Environments, with a Potential Moderating Effect of Neuroticism. Bachelor thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
This study investigated how the addition of the secondary task, listening to a podcast, impacts driving in complex simulated environments, as well as if neuroticism plays a moderating role within this relationship. A within-subjects, repeated-measures design was employed with a sample of 26 participants, all of whom were required to complete the same simulated drive twice, once whilst listening to a podcast, and once without. Speed, speed variability, lane swerving, and two measures from a gap acceptance task were used to assess driving performance. Additionally, questionnaires yielded subjective performance measures, along with neuroticism scores and information on secondary task performance. Ultimately, listening to a podcast was not found to impact driving performance, nor was neuroticism found to be a moderator. However, in the exploratory analysis, significantly higher effort was experienced by the participants during the podcast driving condition, which in combination with overall poor secondary task performance, indicates a form of compensatory and adaptive behavior to protect primary task performance. Although multitasking increases cognitive strain on the participants, it seems that driving performance can be sustained through increased effort exerted. Regardless, exerting more effort may not be a sustainable strategy over longer or more complex drives since cognitive reserves will be used up faster. So, future research should explore how different environments, situations, and types of people may impact this relationship, and if the actual moderator may be effort. Keywords: Driving, Dual-Task Performance, Cognitive Workload, Complex Environments, Simulator, Neuroticism, Podcast Listening
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Waard, D. de |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | None [Bachelor Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 29 Jul 2025 09:05 |
| Last Modified: | 29 Jul 2025 09:05 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/5767 |
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