The first analysis was conducted on only the first data sample (of the three recordings made) for each of six subjects. The subjects were chosen based on their relative tenure as staff members. Two subjects represented "RECENT HIRES" and had worked as NTID Staff interpreters for less than five years. Two subjects were "MEDIAL HIRES" and had worked as NTID Staff interpreters for between ten and fifteen years. Two subjects were "LONG-TERM HIRES" and had worked as NTID Staff interpreters for more than twenty years.
Nine unique one-minute segments were analyzed for four factors: 1) "Behaviors indicative of fatigue", 2) "Behaviors contra-indicative of fatigue", 3) "Positive biomechanic behaviors" and 4 "Negative biomechanic behaviors". The one-minute video samples were viewed starting at the twenty-minute mark and proceeding as follows in the order indicated:
20:00 - 21:00
25:00 - 26:00
30:00 - 31:00
35:00 - 36:00
40:00 - 41:00
45:00 - 46:00
05:00 - 06:00 (this allowed for direct contrast of end-of-sample with beginning-of-sample data)10:00 - 11:00
15:00 - 16:00
20:00 - 21:00 (second viewing of this segment to verify the first analysis)
Information noted regarding Positive or Negative biomechanic behaviors did not significantly change across the data sample. If subjects were demonstrating good biomechanics early, they generally continued to demonstrate them later. If subjects demonstrated poor biomechanics early, they generally continued to demonstrate them later (with the singular exception of some subjects making use of more microbreaks later rather than earlier in their data sample).
The more interesting results from this first analysis came from looking for behaviors indicative of fatigue (such as posture changes, stretches and restrained yawns) and behaviors contra-indicative of fatigue (such as extra effort/movement or emphasis/animation in the target text).
The information at the bottom of the chart indicates the relative indicators of fatigue between the RECENT (less than 5 years) hires, the MEDIAL (10-15 year) hires, and the LONG-TERM (20+ years) hires. Indications of fatigue decrease with employment duration. Contra-indicators of fatigue also decrease with employment duration. This analysis is inconclusive but may demonstrate that fewer indicators AND contra-indicators of fatigue are revealed across greater durations of employment. In other words, interpreters with longer employment durations reveal less information about their level of fatigue in general (good or bad) and perhaps this merely means that they are better at "pacing" themselves across assignments.
The information from the right-most column provides the cleanest indication of interpreting fatigue over time. Interpreters demonstrated a fairly steady increase of indicators of fatigue over time, with an interesting pattern of temporary recovery at around twenty minutes. This is interesting in light of the fact that this segment was viewed twice to ensure the accuracy of the first analysis. Repeated viewings would likely REDUCE the score rather than enhance it because additional fatigue could be noted in the second reviewing of the sample. Generally the scores for the first viewing were not altered as a result of the second viewing. In other words, it appears that the effect of temporary reduction in the indicators of fatigue at around twenty minutes is a real phenomenon and merits further study.
Please remember, this is an INITIAL analysis of the data and it only involves six subjects. The exact behaviors exhibiting an INDICATION of fatigue or a CONTRA-INDICATION of fatigue are not yet precisely defined and ultimately will still be largely subjective.
The information from the right-most column provides the cleanest indication of interpreting fatigue over time. Interpreters demonstrated a fairly steady increase of indicators of fatigue over time, with an interesting pattern of temporary recovery at around twenty minutes. This is interesting in light of the fact that this segment was viewed twice to ensure the accuracy of the first analysis. Repeated viewings would likely REDUCE the score rather than enhance it because additional fatigue could be noted in the second reviewing of the sample. Generally the scores for the first viewing were not altered as a result of the second viewing. In other words, it appears that the effect of temporary reduction in the indicators of fatigue at around twenty minutes is a real phenomenon and merits further study.
Please remember, this is an INITIAL analysis of the data and it only involves six subjects. The exact behaviors exhibiting an INDICATION of fatigue or a CONTRA-INDICATION of fatigue are not yet precisely defined and ultimately will still be largely subjective.
