No gossiping in the office: interruptions double chance of making mistakes

Key

Question 1

a)  FALSE. Being interrupted for just three seconds can double the chances of making a mistake

b)  TRUE. It is another reason why mobiles, background televisions and other potential distractions should be turned off completely during the times of concentration, the researchers from Michigan State University say.

c)  FALSE. 300 volunteers were given a succession of letter combinations to type on a computer keyboard in the right order.

d)  FALSE. …..the researchers from Michigan State University say. OR

Psychology Professor Erik Altmann, who carried out the study funded by the US Navy Office of Naval Research …

Question 2

a)       300 people who had offered to take part were told a series of letters to remember and then had to enter them onto a computer in the same order.  Some of these people were then distracted and given two more numbers to add to the sequence.

b)       Telephones, talking to workmates, televisions are mentioned.

Question 3

a)       surgeon/surgeons

b)       rate

c)       carry / carried out

 Question 4

a)  Being interrupted for just three seconds can double the chances of making a mistake.

     If someone is interrupted for just three seconds, then the chances of them making a mistake 

     double.

b) People ought to switch off mobiles, background televisions and other potential distractions completely during times of concentration.

c)  Professor Erik Altmann said that participants had had to shift their attention from one task to another and that this meant that people who look after our health and safety had to be able to work uninterrupted.

     Professor Erik Altmann said “ Participants had to shift their attention from one task to another and this means that people who look after our health and safety must/have to be able to work uninterrupted.