Dissertation Defenses

Doctoral Dissertation Announcement

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Candidate: William Gene Rantz

Degree of: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Psychology

Title: Comparing the Accuracy of Performing Digital and Paper Checklists using a Feedback Intervention Package during Normal Workload Conditions in Simulated Flight

Committee:
Dr. Ron Van Houten, Chair
Dr. Alan Poling
Dr. Bradley Huitema
Dr. Vladimir Risukhin

Date: Monday, March 16, 2009 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
3723 Wood Hall

Abstract:
This study examines whether pilots completed airplane digital or paper checklists more accurately when they received post-flight graphic and verbal feedback. Participants were six college student pilots with instrument rating. The task consists of flying flight patterns using a Frasca 241 Flight Training Device, which emulates a SR20 Cirrus aircraft. The main dependent variable is the number of checklist items completed correctly per flight. A multiple baseline design across pairs with reversal is used. During baseline, the average percent of correctly completed items per flight varies considerably across participants, ranging from 13% to 57% for traditional paper checklists and ranging from 11% to 67% for digital checklists. Checklist performance increases to an average of 90% items correct for paper checklist and an average of 89% items correct for digital checklists after participants were given feedback and praise, and continued to improve to an average of 100% items correct for paper checklists and an average of 99% items correct for digital checklists after the feedback and praise were removed. A slight decrement in performance is observed during a post-experiment probe between 60-90 days. Visual inspection of the data suggests that paper checklist accuracy does not differ significantly from digital checklist accuracy. The results suggest that graphic feedback and praise can be used to increase the extent to which pilots use both digital and paper checklists accurately.