An Investigation of Mental Coding Mechanisms and Heuristics Used in Electronics Troubleshooting.

Abstract

This research is comprised of four separate but related efforts, which are: (1) A Review of Troubleshooting Literature; (2) An Outline of a Theoretical Description for a Process Model; (3) A Mental Encoding Experiment Relating to Troubleshooting, and (4) An Experiment on Heuristics Used in Troubleshooting. In all, some 33 publications pertaining to behavioral aspects of troubleshooting were reviewed, in addition to over 60 other papers dealing with mental encoding and with heuristics. A theoretical description of a process model problem space in mathematical terms was developed and outlined quantitatively, using tensor analysis. Next, a heuristical process model, which is the qualitative counterpart of such a mathematical model was described. Finally, a discussion of the relative merits of each model, in view of man's cognitive limitations, was presented.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1980
Accession Number
ADA108430

Entities

People

  • Mark M. Burroughs

Organizations

  • United States Air Force Academy

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  • Advanced Electronics
  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Applied Psychology
  • Bayesian Networks
  • Circuit Analysis
  • Cognition
  • Computational Science
  • Computer Programs
  • Human Factors Engineering
  • Information Processing
  • Information Science
  • Information Systems
  • Mathematical Models
  • Personnel Management
  • Psychology
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Students
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  • Systems Engineering

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  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Technical Research and Report Writing.
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  • Microelectronics
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