Algorithm interruption (doi:10.7910/DVN/MV4QLO)

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Part 1: Document Description
Part 2: Study Description
Part 3: Data Files Description
Part 4: Variable Description
Entire Codebook

Document Description

Citation

Title:

Algorithm interruption

Identification Number:

doi:10.7910/DVN/MV4QLO

Distributor:

Harvard Dataverse

Date of Distribution:

2025-08-27

Version:

1

Bibliographic Citation:

feroz, rushatey, 2025, "Algorithm interruption", https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/MV4QLO, Harvard Dataverse, V1, UNF:6:zvaVZMh/RRFM9Jip3LgWVw== [fileUNF]

Study Description

Citation

Title:

Algorithm interruption

Identification Number:

doi:10.7910/DVN/MV4QLO

Authoring Entity:

feroz, rushatey

Distributor:

Harvard Dataverse

Access Authority:

feroz, rushatey

Depositor:

feroz, rushatey

Date of Deposit:

2025-08-27

Holdings Information:

https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/MV4QLO

Study Scope

Keywords:

Business and Management, Social Sciences, interruptions; algorithmic management; autonomy; attentional residue; human–AI collaboration; cross-cultural psychology; China; UK

Abstract:

Interruptions are pervasive in digital work, yet most research assumes their source is irrelevant. This study challenges that assumption by investigating how algorithmic versus human interruptions differentially affect autonomy, attentional residue, performance, and strain. Drawing on self-determination and attentional residue theories, we theorize that algorithmic interruptions are uniquely autonomy-thwarting and residue-amplifying, particularly when opaque and imposed during non-routine tasks. We tested this model across two complementary studies: a 15-day field experiment in China using digital logs and daily surveys (N ≈ 300 employees, 30 teams) and a cross-cultural laboratory experiment in China and the UK (N = 480). Multilevel path analyses showed that algorithmic interruptions reduced autonomy by .3 SDs, which in turn elevated residue and decreased performance accuracy by 10–12%. Transparency dashboards and alignment with routine tasks buffered these effects, while cultural tightness shaped their magnitude—effects were stronger in the UK (looser) than China (tighter). The findings extend interruption research by showing that source and design matter, refine autonomy theory by recognizing algorithms as autonomy-thwarting actors, and extend attentional residue theory by highlighting design opacity as an amplifier. Practically, we recommend transparency features, snooze options, and culturally sensitive deployment of algorithmic tools to support psychologically sustainable digital workplaces

Methodology and Processing

Sources Statement

Data Access

Notes:

<a href="http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0">CC0 1.0</a>

Other Study Description Materials

File Description--f12014308

File: 2025 interruptions_APIR.tab

  • Number of cases: 7200

  • No. of variables per record: 17

  • Type of File: text/tab-separated-values

Notes:

UNF:6:zvaVZMh/RRFM9Jip3LgWVw==

algorithm interruption

Variable Description

List of Variables:

Variables

ParticipantID

f12014308 Location:

Variable Format: character

Notes: UNF:6:wSj60Tm630jBnIK8l5z9lA==

Country

f12014308 Location:

Variable Format: character

Notes: UNF:6:l+12KXIZHOHSLWv7NOgiHw==

TeamID

f12014308 Location:

Summary Statistics: Max. 30.0; Mean 15.77291666666668; Valid 7200.0; StDev 8.978634629479945; Min. 1.0

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:XjOEEi634tXC8H4pnd+ZuA==

Date

f12014308 Location:

Variable Format: character

Notes: UNF:6:d4l9c1Yrc1Q6fVRJ0CZG0w==

Day

f12014308 Location:

Summary Statistics: Max. 15.0; Mean 8.0; Valid 7200.0; Min. 1.0; StDev 4.3207938644873565

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:ArY1nterxLOTMYVqyTkGrg==

AlgorithmicInterrupts

f12014308 Location:

Summary Statistics: StDev 1.4183328165763478; Mean 1.9994444444444452; Min. 0.0; Valid 7200.0; Max. 11.0;

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:iFlkZKyojCARSbOLah5SIA==

HumanInterrupts

f12014308 Location:

Summary Statistics: Mean 3.0031944444444454; Max. 12.0; Valid 7200.0; StDev 1.724492695243813; Min. 0.0;

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:Hvgfke6zTrmFFFyaHDe2mg==

Transparency

f12014308 Location:

Summary Statistics: Max. 1.0; Min. 0.0; Mean 0.2811111111111115; Valid 7200.0; StDev 0.4495728260800232;

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:5za+izNE4ir5UgeiuPTqvg==

StateAutonomy

f12014308 Location:

Summary Statistics: Max. 5.75; Valid 7200.0; Mean 3.6672611111111113; Min. 1.22; StDev 0.5978370037748825;

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:PGwGA2s9mdz3kqSmYo7Hrg==

AttentionalResidue

f12014308 Location:

Summary Statistics: Min. -0.72; StDev 0.721066999063323; Valid 7200.0; Mean 1.5170444444444444; Max. 4.76

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:7JAkvJohjP8BbIpBXsTrDA==

Strain

f12014308 Location:

Summary Statistics: Mean 2.4522944444444446; Min. 0.23; Valid 7200.0; Max. 5.44; StDev 0.6763909742695516

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:0zaGvTMDjC8l0I0HiSITjw==

Performance

f12014308 Location:

Summary Statistics: Valid 7200.0; Max. 7.46; StDev 0.7191153657261823; Mean 5.393175; Min. 1.97

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:ZH4c52tjGSp0jvGWaXD2oQ==

Workload

f12014308 Location:

Summary Statistics: Min. 1.0; Valid 7200.0; Max. 5.0; Mean 2.982916666666667; StDev 1.4108158175360277

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:MwadLi8v9KWyJ7vEP2b7wg==

RoutineTask

f12014308 Location:

Summary Statistics: Valid 7200.0; Mean 0.5040277777777777; StDev 0.500018501455752; Max. 1.0; Min. 0.0;

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:UcOMHknqdzcvtkidzNHQ4A==

AutonomyOrientation

f12014308 Location:

Summary Statistics: StDev 1.0119649036298564; Mean 0.0495316412735772; Max. 2.760761935726184; Min. -2.806217109; Valid 7200.0

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:XwpSUN/MvNNq9V658WUjag==

NeedForStructure

f12014308 Location:

Summary Statistics: Min. -2.784004229; Valid 7200.0; Mean 0.10240690960484486; Max. 2.403415585238275; StDev 0.9703814074718556

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:WSnw5/PBqL0fab8vMUov7Q==

Neuroticism

f12014308 Location:

Summary Statistics: Valid 7200.0; StDev 1.0728958514827511; Min. -2.872262213; Max. 2.9650103517207222; Mean -0.004708926419995227;

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:p5iyaZD/ZE4qBzAQWRST6Q==