Selective attention as an indicator for qualification for routine knowledge work in public long-distance trains and single offices

Abstract Aim The growing prevalence of mobile knowledge work in trains and flexible office environments introduces new demands on employees’ individual skills and performance. Subject and methods This study aimed to examine whether selective attention can serve as an indicator of performance and mental workload in routine knowledge work across different work environments. A total of 52 participants completed standardized routine tasks (email categorization, phone calls) for 2 h in both an InterCity Express train environment and a single office. Task performance was measured by correctly processed tickets, while mental workload was assessed at 10-min intervals using a self-report scale. Selective attention was measured afterward with the Vienna Test System. Results Results show that higher levels of selective attention were significantly associated with better performance in both environments, with a stronger effect observed in the single office. Selective attention, however, did not influence mental workload, which in turn negatively correlated with performance in the single office setting. Conclusion These findings suggest that selective attention is a reliable indicator of performance in routine knowledge work but not of mental workload. Future research should explore alternative measures of selective attention and extend the analysis to other types of knowledge work to refine aptitude diagnostics for mobile work contexts.