Focus of attention

Attention focus is a dimension of cognitive ability. It describes people's tendency to find solutions to problems with a narrow search radius rather than a broad search radius.

The amount of information we need to manage at the same time is increasing every day. That is why it is becoming increasingly important to focus on relevant elements and filter out irrelevant information.

A person's attention focus can be classified on a continuum between the two poles of narrow search focus when solving problems and broad search focus for problem solutions. Each person's value can therefore be located at one point on the following scale:

Narrow search focus

People who are more likely to find good solutions to problems with a narrow search focus usually prefer work activities where they are more often confronted with clearly defined and repetitive tasks and information.

They are therefore particularly suitable for jobs where problems with a narrow search radius must be solved, such as in customer service or other clearly defined areas of activity.

Broad search focus

People who are more likely to find good solutions to problems with a wide search focus prefer work activities where they are more often confronted with unpredictable and diverse tasks and information.

They are therefore particularly suitable for jobs in which problems have to be solved with a wide search radius and often also under sensory overload, such as in emergency medicine or crisis management.

Benefits in a professional context

As a result, attention focus is of varying importance across different professional fields, because encountering new, unpredictable situations is not an everyday occurrence in most jobs.

For jobs with clearly defined, routine tasks, attention focus is rarely needed because the flow of information can be reduced or is generally not particularly high to begin with.

However, if you are often confronted with unpredictability and emergencies, the ability to focus attention plays an important role.

It therefore always depends on the company and the position whether applicants with a narrow or broad focus of attention are more likely to be particularly effective employees.

How do you capture attention focus?

Is attention focus one of your applicants' strengths?

With our Game-based assessment “Wind speed 7” will tell you that in no time at all. Here, users must quickly recognize which stimuli are relevant and must not be distracted.

Sources

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• Mainert, J., Niepel, C., Murphy, K.R., & Greiff, S. (2019). The incremental contribution of complex problem-solving skills to the prediction of job level, job complexity, and salary. Journal of Business and Psychology, 34 (6), 825-845.
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Aivy measures focus of attention in a game-based assessment.