Why did the pilots shut down the wrong engine? Explaining errors in context using Schema Theory and the Perceptual Cycle Model
Why did the pilots shut down the wrong engine? Explaining errors in context using Schema Theory and the Perceptual Cycle Model
Although human error remains a dominant issue in aviation research, methods that predict human error have been criticised for not providing adequate causal explanations, rather they have focused on classification. The concept of Schemata has prevailed in the literature and has been shown to describe the contextual causes of human error. The purpose of this paper is to review the recent error literature and demonstrate that Schema Theory (as incorporated in the Perceptual Cycle framework) offers a compelling causal account of human error. Schema Theory offers a system perspective with a focus on human activity in context to explain why apparently erroneous actions occurred, even though they may have appeared to be appropriate at the time. This is exemplified in a case study of the pilots’ actions preceding the 1989 Kegworth accident. Schema Theory is presented as a promising avenue for further exploration into the context of human error in aviation.
schema, human error, perceptual cycle model, aviation
300-315
Plant, Katherine L.
3638555a-f2ca-4539-962c-422686518a78
Stanton, Neville A.
351a44ab-09a0-422a-a738-01df1fe0fadd
February 2012
Plant, Katherine L.
3638555a-f2ca-4539-962c-422686518a78
Stanton, Neville A.
351a44ab-09a0-422a-a738-01df1fe0fadd
Plant, Katherine L. and Stanton, Neville A.
(2012)
Why did the pilots shut down the wrong engine? Explaining errors in context using Schema Theory and the Perceptual Cycle Model.
Safety Science, 50 (2), .
(doi:10.1016/j.ssci.2011.09.005).
Abstract
Although human error remains a dominant issue in aviation research, methods that predict human error have been criticised for not providing adequate causal explanations, rather they have focused on classification. The concept of Schemata has prevailed in the literature and has been shown to describe the contextual causes of human error. The purpose of this paper is to review the recent error literature and demonstrate that Schema Theory (as incorporated in the Perceptual Cycle framework) offers a compelling causal account of human error. Schema Theory offers a system perspective with a focus on human activity in context to explain why apparently erroneous actions occurred, even though they may have appeared to be appropriate at the time. This is exemplified in a case study of the pilots’ actions preceding the 1989 Kegworth accident. Schema Theory is presented as a promising avenue for further exploration into the context of human error in aviation.
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Published date: February 2012
Keywords:
schema, human error, perceptual cycle model, aviation
Organisations:
Transportation Group
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 358197
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/358197
ISSN: 0925-7535
PURE UUID: 61435f28-fc0b-4263-9ffe-68aafdfdc3d7
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Date deposited: 08 Oct 2013 15:50
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:36
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