- Tasks are affected by preceding tasks and complexity-level is an important factor in mediating the effects of the chain type
- L tasks took less time when preceded by same-operation microtasks
- H tasks were perceived as less demanding when preceded by same-content microtasks 
- Initial microtasks perceived to be more helpful to final task in H task chains
- L task chains perceived to be more enjoyable

Chain Reactions: The Impact of Order on Microtask Chains--Results, Continuity

- Complexity of initial microtasks matter and their helpfulness was perceived differently depending on complexity of final task
- Same-complexity chains lead to faster completion of final task (for both H and L)
- For chains ending in an H task, same-complexity chains perceived to be more helpful
- H-only tasks less enjoyable than L-only tasks
- No evidence that transitioning between complexities negatively affects performance when compared to starting immediately on final task

Chain Reactions: The Impact of Order on Microtask Chains--Results, Transitions

- Lead-up/preceding microtasks had variable effects on the final microtask depending on their properties
- Participants initiated typing on final task sooner when they first completed M tasks on same content (initiated sooner)
- Completing L tasks on same content lead to participants feeling greater sense of momentum going into final task
- Participants felt more mentally warmed up when first completing L tasks of same content when compared to completing L tasks of different content 
- No difference in final task completion time

Chain Reactions: The Impact of Order on Microtask Chains--Results, Ease in

- Results of Continuity study
- Results of Transitions study
- Results of Ease in study

Wake Forest University

Cai, C. J., Iqbal, S. T., &amp; Teevan, J. (2016). Chain Reactions: The Impact of Order on Microtask Chains. Proceedings of the 2016 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. https://doi.org/10.1145/2858036.2858237 

Chain Reactions: The Impact of Order on Microtask Chains

Prior research indicates that task transition is important and affects overall productivity. In this study, researchers aim to examine how we may optimize task transitions through the ordering of existing microtasks to support continuity, help individuals transition between microtasks, and ease individuals into greater processes. Researchers decided to choose writing as their goal task of interest because they reasoned that it is a domain where thoughtful ordering and chaining of microtasks is especially important.
3 research questions:
- Continuity: How are performance and experience of a microtask affected by whether preceding microtasks share the same operation or the same content as the current microtask?
- Transitions: How are performance and experience of a microtask affected by whether previous microtasks are of the same or different complexity as the current microtask?
- Easing in: How are performance and experience of a complex microtask affected when it is preceded by more simple microtasks?

Chain Reactions: The Impact of Order on Microtask Chains--Purpose

- Selecting operations
- Selecting content
- Determining complexity 
- Testing Continuity question
- Testing Transitions question
- Testing Ease in question

Chain Reactions: The Impact of Order on Microtask Chains--Methods

Chain Reactions: The Impact of Order on Microtask Chains--Results

Microtasks have carryover effects on subsequent microtasks in a chain. Properties of tasks (operation, content, complexity) mediate the efficiency, perceived mental workload, and other variables of future tasks. Below is a list of strategies to improve task efficiency based on the results of this study.
- Build momentum using same-operation L tasks
- Transition to H task using L and M tasks on similar content to build momentum
- Avoid switching content during a series of H tasks
- Switch content when transitioning between H and L tasks

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