Computer assistance : implications for memory performance as a function of control responsibility assigned to human operations
Computer assistance : implications for memory performance as a function of control responsibility assigned to human operations
A perceived consequence of increasing computer assistance, within such contexts as air traffic control, is that the operator's knowledge and overall appreciation of the state of the system could be impaired. This thesis describes a laboratory based research programme, initially investigated within a memory model, the purpose of which was to provide a context for testing constructs applicable to the complex and varied tasks of human-machine systems.Decision making functions assigned to human or machine were varied in a number of ways, namely by assigning subjects to experimental conditions comprising different levels of participation, by altering subjects' responsibility for individual tasks and by changing the accuracy of the computerised system. Other related issues investigated were: the level of task difficulty, recency of the memory test, directing subject's attention and other potential measures of memory performance. In general the experimental stimuli used were pictorial problem solving tasks.Results indicated some decrement in memory (recognition) performance due to subject's adoption of a monitoring role, although this was dependent on both the cognitive decision making process assigned to the subject and the motor response required. In addition, a high percentage of computer generated errors impaired memory (recognition) performance, while directing subjects' attention towards the presented information improved recognition performance, in the short term. It was found that neither response time to recognise an item nor confidence ratings provided a stable measure of the total processing involved for a stimulus item and thus its accessibility for retrieval. Generally recognition performance was not found to be substantially reduced afer a one week interval.It was found that the memory model utilised provided a satisfactory account of some of the results obtained, although these and others could also be explained within the context of other memory theories. Finally, proposals were made for computer aiding rather than full automation, so the operator remains within the control loop, thus maintaining his overall appreciation of the system state. The implications of these results within an operational environment are discussed. However the final, stressed point was that the results of this research programme should be tested within an operational environment.
University of Southampton
Narborough-Hall, Caren Susan
1987
Narborough-Hall, Caren Susan
Narborough-Hall, Caren Susan
(1987)
Computer assistance : implications for memory performance as a function of control responsibility assigned to human operations.
University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
A perceived consequence of increasing computer assistance, within such contexts as air traffic control, is that the operator's knowledge and overall appreciation of the state of the system could be impaired. This thesis describes a laboratory based research programme, initially investigated within a memory model, the purpose of which was to provide a context for testing constructs applicable to the complex and varied tasks of human-machine systems.Decision making functions assigned to human or machine were varied in a number of ways, namely by assigning subjects to experimental conditions comprising different levels of participation, by altering subjects' responsibility for individual tasks and by changing the accuracy of the computerised system. Other related issues investigated were: the level of task difficulty, recency of the memory test, directing subject's attention and other potential measures of memory performance. In general the experimental stimuli used were pictorial problem solving tasks.Results indicated some decrement in memory (recognition) performance due to subject's adoption of a monitoring role, although this was dependent on both the cognitive decision making process assigned to the subject and the motor response required. In addition, a high percentage of computer generated errors impaired memory (recognition) performance, while directing subjects' attention towards the presented information improved recognition performance, in the short term. It was found that neither response time to recognise an item nor confidence ratings provided a stable measure of the total processing involved for a stimulus item and thus its accessibility for retrieval. Generally recognition performance was not found to be substantially reduced afer a one week interval.It was found that the memory model utilised provided a satisfactory account of some of the results obtained, although these and others could also be explained within the context of other memory theories. Finally, proposals were made for computer aiding rather than full automation, so the operator remains within the control loop, thus maintaining his overall appreciation of the system state. The implications of these results within an operational environment are discussed. However the final, stressed point was that the results of this research programme should be tested within an operational environment.
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Published date: 1987
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Local EPrints ID: 461768
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/461768
PURE UUID: 1dab1981-3257-41d0-a7f5-4b563978b44e
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Date deposited: 04 Jul 2022 18:54
Last modified: 04 Jul 2022 18:54
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Author:
Caren Susan Narborough-Hall
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