Digital Trail Making Test Time Predicts Information Technology Task Performance (Preprint)

Abstract

Cognitive functional ability affects the accessibility of information technology (IT) and is thus something that should be controlled for in user experience (UX) research. However, many cognitive function assessment batteries are long and complex, making them impractical for use in conventional experimental time frames. Therefore, there is a need for a short and reliable cognitive assessment which has discriminant validity for cognitive functions needed for general IT tasks. One potential candidate is the Trail Making Test (TMT).

The present study investigated the usefulness of a digital TMT as a cognitive profiling tool in IT-related UX research by assessing its predictive validity on general IT task performance, and exploring its discriminant validity according to discrete cognitive functions required to perform the IT task.

A digital TMT (Parts A and B) named Axon was administered to 27 healthy participants, followed by administration of five IT tasks in the form of CAPTCHAs. The discrete cognitive functions required to perform each CAPTCHA were rated by trained evaluators. To further explain and cross-validate our results, the original TMT and two psychological assessments of visuomotor and short-term memory function were administered.

Axon A and B were administrable in under five minutes and overall performance was significantly predictive of general IT task performance (F(5, 19) = 6.352, p = 0.001, Wilks’ Lambda = 0.374). This result was driven by performance on Axon B (F(5, 19) = 3.382, p = 0.024, Wilks’ Lambda = 0.529), particularly for IT tasks involving the combination of executive and visual function. Axon was furthermore cross validated with the original TMT (pcorr = 0.001 and pcorr = 0.017 for A and B, respectively) and visuomotor and short-term memory tasks.

The results demonstrate that variance in IT task performance among an age-homogenous neurotypical population can be related to inter-subject variance in cognitive function as assessed by Axon. Although Axon’s predictive validity seemed stronger for tasks involving the combination of executive and visual function, these cognitive functions are arguably relevant to the majority of IT interfaces. In conclusion, and considering its short administration time and remote implementability, the Axon digital TMT has potential to be a useful cognitive profiling tool for IT-based UX research.