Using Eye Activity to Study Cognitive Processes Underlying Individual Differences

New developments in the field of cognitive sciences and eye tracking technology has allowed for more direct study of underlying cognitive processes occurring during task performance. First, eye tracking technology provides a continuous measure of pupil dilation, an indicator of cognitive effort during task performance. Second, it provides a measure of scanning patterns, providing insight as to how and where cognitive effort is directed. In this study 57 subjects were eye tracked as they performed three sessions on a dual-attention task involving monitoring gauges and comparing equations. Additional measures included performance and self-report measures of self-efficacy, and cognitive interference. The objective eye tracking measures corroborated and expanded on previously established relationships between cognitive processing, cognitive interference, self-efficacy, and performance.