Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a commonly diagnosed neuro-developmental disorder that is
chronic, persists into adulthood, and causes impairment in social, educational, and occupational functioning. While
the educational and social impairments of ADHD are well understood, far less is known about the occupational
impairments that affect young adults with ADHD, who are known to earn less and change jobs more frequently than
their typical peers. Thus, it is vital to understand the type and intensity of functional problems within workplace
settings with a goal of reducing occupational impairment.
To analyze this critical human performance deficiency, we have developed an analog single-Laboratory restaurant
setting: a hybrid Live-Virtual “pizza place� training environment. A total of forty-nine young adults (24 ADHD, 25
Typical) were recruited to participate in a simulated workday doing typical job tasks: receive food requests, provide
customer service (using confederates), prepare food orders, plan the most efficient driving route to make food
deliveries, “deliver� the orders, and make appropriate change, and settle up finances once “returned� to the restaurant.
Stated tasks require working memory, sequencing, sustained attention, direction-following, cognitive flexibility, and
problem-solving.
To identify specific areas of impairment for food order deliveries, we have computationally modeled a residential
neighborhood to be endeavored upon a high-fidelity driving simulator. During the delivery cycle, the efficiency of
the route, an evaluation of correct delivery and money management, and quantifiable simulator metrics (e.g., speeding,
failure to stop at signs and signals) are observed as dependent variables. We likewise solicit feedback on the
fidelity/usability of the analog setting (i.e., user experience), including suggested improvements for future work. In
this paper, our discussion will emphasize critical Modeling & Simulation (M&S) engineering details of the simulator
environment design and implementation. Likewise, our multi-measure data analysis methods will focus on measuring
human performance and effectiveness within the Live-Virtual environment, and comparing preliminary observations
from both cohorts.
Live-Virtual Laboratory Assessment of Behaviors in Occupational Roles (LABOR)
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