The Measurement of Mood Variation Over Time and Its Relation to Performance

Variation in mood states over time and the relationship between mood states and task performance were investigated using the Profile of Mood States (POMS), the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List - Revised (MAACL-R) and the Rotter's IE locus of control test. These tests along with anagram and digit cancellation tasks were administered twice a week for six weeks. A correlational analysis was performed. The results showed a higher correlation between mood state measures as the subjects' moods varied over time than between either mood measure and locus of control which did not covary with either of these measures. There was also a low correlation between the measures of mood with the anagram and digit cancellation tasks. Thus, while the subjects' moods varied over time and both the POMS and MAACL-R were sensitive to those changes, performance did not vary with changes in mood for the tasks used in this study.