Componential Analysis of Pilot Decision Making

Abstract

This report describes the development of a computerized pilot decision-making simulator/trainer known as MIDIS, and its utilization as a research tool in the validation of an information-processing model of pilot decision making. Efforts in this project followed two parallel but interacting tracks: development of decision scenarios for the MIDIS program, following the sequence of a realistic IFR flight, and compilation of a cognitive test battery, based on an information processing model of decision making, and designed to assess individual differences in those cognitive attributes determined to be important in effective decision making. Subjects consisted of thirty eight instrument rated pilots subdivided into two groups on the basis of reported hours of flight experience. The experiment consisted of four parts: administration - of the cognitive test battery, pre-flight planning, a practice flight, and the actual MIDIS run. Subjects were scored as to the optimality and latency of their choices, and their rated confidence. The results indicated that low and high experienced pilots did not differ from each other in terms of their judgement performance, but that high experience pilots expressed slightly greater confidence in their decisions. The two groups however did differ in terms of what problem variables degraded decision performance, and what individual abilities affected that performance. In particular, novice decision performance was partially predicted by information processing test related to spatial abilities, working memory capacity, mathematical ability and by tests of declarative knowledge. The implications for future research that focuses on capturing this source of prediction of experienced pilot judgement are discussed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1988
Accession Number
ADA203711

Entities

People

  • Alan Stokes
  • Barbara Barnett
  • Christopher Dow Wickens
  • Tom Davis Jr

Organizations

  • University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accidents
  • Accuracy
  • Air Force
  • Aviation Accidents
  • Cognition
  • Cognitive Workload
  • Computer Programming
  • Data Analysis
  • Human Factors Engineering
  • Information Processing
  • Information Science
  • Instructors
  • Judgment
  • Motor Skills
  • Psychology
  • Regression Analysis
  • Simulators

Readers

  • Aviation Science / Aeronautics.
  • Psychometric Testing or Psychological Assessment.
  • Team-Based Human-Centered Cognitive Task Decision Making and Information Performance.