Quality control pharmacy tasks: big five personality model and accuracy of error detection

The relationships between extraversion, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and performance were examined in the context of an error detection task completed under stable and shifting workload conditions. 114 participants checked two sets of 40 fictitious prescriptions for errors. Errors were inserted at rates varying from 26% to 38%. Workload was manipulated by altering the amount of time allowed to complete each set. The stable workload group had 45 min. per set, the workload up-shift group had 60 min. for the first set and 30 min. for the second set. Performance was measured using hit rates and false alarms. Analysis indicated that extraversion and conscientiousness were correlated with hit rates, but only in the stable workload condition. Results are discussed and research directions are considered.