AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF FACTORS INFLUENCING TROUBLE-SHOOTING DIFFICULTY
Abstract
A paper-and-pencil vehicle incorporating principles judged to be of importance in troubleshooting was developed. Within the framework of a defined symbolic data flow system and the ground rules for trouble-shooting it, subjects were required to locate a defective stage, in each of 20 problems. Three independent variables were set up for experimental test of their effect on solution difficulty. These were (1) the type of diagram used to represent the system (block vs. detailed); (2) the degree of failure of the defective stage (partial vs. complete); and (3) the problem category (feedback vs. nonfeedback). Problem difficulty was defined by the number of persons who located the malfunctioning stage, and by the number of checking errors. Subjects were 132 naval enlisted men selected for electronics school training, who had no formal training in trouble-shooting. It was concluded that the miniature system devised for this study, and its associated vehicle, represent a fruitful method for studying problem-solving variables in a simplified context. Some comments about future research in this general area are presented. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1961
- Accession Number
- AD0262427
Entities
People
- Joseph W. Rigney
- Lyle S. Hoffman
Organizations
- University of Southern California