Attention focus is a The dimension of cognitive abilities. It describes the tendency of people to find the solution to a problem with a narrow search radius rather than with a broad search radius.

The information that we need to manage at the same time is increasing day by day. That is why it is becoming increasingly important to pay attention to to focus on relevant elements and irrelevant information hide.

In doing so, you can focus a person's attention on a continuum between the two poles narrow search focus when solving problems and Broad search focus for problem solutions Classify. The value of each person can therefore be located at one point on the following scale:

Narrow search focus

People who are more likely to have good solutions to problems with narrow search focus They usually prefer work activities in which they are more 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 others clearly defined areas of activity.

Broad search focus

People who are more likely to have good solutions to problems with wide search focus find, prefer work activities in which they are more 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 in various professional fields variously important. Because: It is not everyday to encounter new, uncontrollable contexts in most jobs.

For jobs with clearly defined, routine tasks Is attention focus rarely needed because the Flood of information can be reducedor generally not particularly high is.

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

It therefore always depends on the company and the position whether an applicant is more likely to be with a narrow or broad focus of attention are 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

• Betsch, T., & Haberstroh, S. (2005). Current Research on Routine Decision Making: Advances and Prospects. The routines of decision making, 359-376.
• Duncker, K. (1935). On the psychology of productive thinking. [The psychology of productive thought]. Jumper.
• English, L.D. (1997). The development of fifth-grade children's problem-posing abilities. Educational studies in mathematics, 34 (3), 183-217.
• Fernandez-Duque, D., Baird, J.A., & Posner, M.I. (2000). Executive attention and metacognitive regulation. Consciousness and Cognition, 9 (2), 288-307.
• Funke, J., & Fritz, A. (1995). About planning, problem solving and action.
• Greiff, S., Fischer, A., Wüstenberg, S., Sonnleitner, P., Brunner, M., & Martin, R. (2013). A multitrait—multimethod study of assessment instruments for complex problem solving. Intelligence, 41 (5), 579-596.
• 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.
• Salovey, P., & Mayer, J.D. (1990). Emotional intelligence. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 9 (3), 185-211.
• Tulving, E. (1972). Episodic and semantic memory. Organization of Memory, 1, 381-403.
• Zeidner, Moshe, Gerald Matthews, and Richard D. Roberts. “Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace: A Critical Review.” Applied Psychology 53.3 (2004): 371-399.