Applying Behavioural Science Techniques to the Test and Evaluation of Complex Systems

Abstract

The test and evaluation of complex socio-technical systems is difficult. This is especially so when the test and evaluation (T&E) community involved tends to associate itsef closely with the physical sciences. The behavioural sciences have developed methods to address such problems and have shown that these methods are capable of providing rigorous results. A discussion of the worth of qualitative data and an overview of the behavioural science methods likely to be appropriate for evaluating complex systems involving humans is provided. A minor case study illustrating the application of qualitative data analysis methods to the evaluation of the Australian Army's Battlefield Command Support System (BCSS) is discussed in order to illustrate the merit of behavioural science methods for T&E.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 2000
Accession Number
ADA388255

Entities

People

  • Noel Sproles

Organizations

  • Defence Science and Technology Group

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Human Systems
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Behavioral Sciences
  • Case Studies
  • Classification
  • Complex Systems
  • Data Analysis
  • Electronics
  • Engineering
  • Engineers
  • Human Systems Integration
  • Information Systems
  • Psychology
  • Public Administration
  • Social Sciences
  • System Of Systems
  • Systems Engineering
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Universities

Readers

  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Agent-Based Social Robotics and Mobile-Assisted Learning in Virtual Environments.
  • Technical Research and Report Writing.