SIMULATION IN RAND'S SYSTEM RESEARCH LABORATORY

Abstract

This research attempted to obtain the predictable features of a closed system by exploiting man's capacity to seek and find problem solutions. That is, if man could be motivated to seek the system's goal, and if he were provided knowledge of operational results, a disparity between actual and desired performance might serve as an error feedback to trigger adaptation of operating practices to improve effectiveness. To explore this possibility, a particular manmachine system, a part of the air-defense network, was simulated in the laboratory. Included in the laboratory system were not only functional representations of the machine components but also the men themselves--under such conditions as to permit them the latitude of action found in the real world. Such a system was exposed to successively more difficult task situations, the results of performance were reported back to the crew, and the questions asked were: Could men learn to improve system performance; 'what' did they learn; and 'why' did they learn.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 30, 1957
Accession Number
AD0606372

Entities

People

  • Robert L. Chapman

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Defense
  • Air Force
  • Data Processing
  • Fighter Bombers
  • Human-Machine Systems
  • Logistics
  • Materials
  • New York
  • Payload
  • Production Engineering
  • Simulations
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Training
  • Uncertainty

Readers

  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Team-Based Human-Centered Cognitive Task Decision Making and Information Performance.