Psychology Commons^™

Stress, Anxiety, And Depression In Aerospace Students, Harley L. Waters

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

This study investigates and compares the levels of stress, anxiety, and depression among a sample of 574 undergraduate students in the Aerospace Professional Pilot concentration, Aerospace majors in concentrations other than Professional Pilot, and Non-Aerospace students at Middle Tennessee State University. This study sought to determine if Aerospace students exhibited higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. The participants of this study completed the DASS-21, a survey instrument that measures three separate constructs: depression, anxiety, and stress. The scores from this survey were used to compare depression, anxiety, and stress levels between the three groups of students using ANOVA and …

Hazardous Attitudes: A Study Identifying Mental Healthcare Avoidance Behaviors And Attitudes In A Collegiate Aviation Student Population, Harley L. Waters, Paul Mosey, Collin Mcdonald

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

Mental health is a topic that has rapidly gained traction in the aerospace education community, specifically in collegiate aviation programs. Previous research has shown that college students are a population that is prone to mental health issues that can adversely affect their academic success and quality of life (Jennings et al., 2017). College students choosing to study aerospace have a unique set of stressors in addition to anxiety associated with the college experience.

The current research seeks to identify perceived barriers to mental health service utilization by the collegiate aviation student population. This study seeks to uncover students’ perceptions that …

Barriers To Mental Health Seeking Among Army Aviation Personnel: A Preliminary Report, Aric J. Raus

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

This research explores barriers to mental health seeking, self-reported symptoms, and perspectives on self-help mental-wellness options among U.S. Army Aviation Personnel. Safe aviation operations require constant focus and mental clarity. These requirements expand when considering the implications and added stress of military operations, especially in combat scenarios. Yet, recent studies demonstrate that aviation personnel avoid seeking healthcare due to fears of losing their medical certification. This report provides preliminary results from the first known study on barriers to mental health seeking among U.S. Army aviation personnel. Utilizing an anonymous survey instrument, facilitated primarily through Social Media recruiting of current and …

Longitudinal Applications Of Stepladder Technique For Enhancing Group Performance, Conner Lutterman

Discovery Day - Prescott

Stepladder technique is intended to improve decision making in small groups by structuring the entry of group members, ensuring that each member contributes to the decision-making process. Previous research has employed the stepladder technique for intellective exercises of short duration. Here, we examined a more realistic application of the stepladder technique to a longitudinal project team engaged in a design/build/ test engineering program. Application of stepladder technique beyond a laboratory/one-time setting is a unique addition to the team performance research. Preliminary data indicates that the stepladder technique is effective in a longitudinal project more aligned to typical organization applications; constraints, …

Implementation Of Team-Based Learning In Aviation Education, Austin T. Walden Ph.D.

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

Recent research in the field of Aviation Education and Educational Psychology has shown that students are in need of greater interaction and social skills. Additionally, although Part 141 flight training programs and ground school classes offer many opportunities for collaboration and for dynamic teamwork, often those opportunities are missed as flight training is still largely a "one-on-one" effort between the student and the certificated flight instructor.

Within the last decade, Team-Based Learning has come to prominence in a variety of disciplines across the academic landscape. Team Based-learning incorporates both individual test taking, and group based test taking into one academic …

Study Abroad For Transformational Learning Opportunities To Build Cultural Intelligence, Nicholas Tran

Undergraduate Research Symposium - Prescott

Recent research points to questions on the value for students studying abroad while in college. Our conceptual paper links the transformative learning theory to the three dimensions of cultural intelligence to highlight the value of study abroad to provide life-changing learning opportunities. Through disorienting dilemmas and a process of cultivating critical reflection, study abroad students will generate new meaning schemes, or “habits of the mind” to view the world. In addition to critical reflection, the role of emotions plays a critical role in the development of self-awareness. These transformational learning experiences interconnect with the three-dimensional model of cultural intelligence through …

A Preliminary Comparison Of Pilots' Weather Minimums And Actual Decision-Making, Nathan W. Walters, Mattie Milner, Daniel A. Marte, Evan A. Adkins, Marie Aidonidis, Matt B. Pierce, Abigail K. Pasmore, Angela Roccasecca, Stephen Rice, Scott R. Winter

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

Adverse weather conditions remain a leading contributing factor in general aviation accidents. In compromising situations, such as severe weather, pilots continue to make decisions, which endanger themselves, passengers, and the aircraft. Although technology and training have lowered the risks associated with poor decision making by aviators, they are often still faced with scenarios requiring split second judgments. A countermeasure to these risks is the use of personal weather minimums by pilots. The purpose of this study was to examine pilot’s decision-making and performance, while flying an instrument approach, under extreme conditions of low visibility and ceiling as based on their …

How Trust Influences Adoption: Creating Human-Centered Autonomous Vehicles, David R. Garcia

Human Factors and Applied Psychology Student Conference

No abstract provided.

Middle Schoolers’ Texting Behaviors: A Look At Individual Differences And Parental Attachment, Bradford Schroeder, Griselda Alavez, Valerie K. Sims

Human Factors and Applied Psychology Student Conference

The present study was conducted to assess individual differences in middle schoolers’ texting behaviors. Individual difference variables of interest were attachment to parents, gender, and age. Participants were recruited from a public middle school in Florida, and received permission from their parents to participate in this study. Once they provided their assent, they completed several self-reports which assessed the frequency and endorsement of texting behaviors, and their attachment to parents. The texting scale that was included for this study is based on a six sub-type texting scale which was normed on multiple groups of college students in Florida and derived …

Using Implicit Associations To Reveal Hidden Biases Toward Robots, Ashley Reardon, William Volante, Tracy Sanders, Peter Hancock

Human Factors and Applied Psychology Student Conference

Previously, the Implicit Associations Test (IAT) has been used to measure attitudes toward different human variables (i.e. race, religion, age) (Fazio, R. H., & Olson, M. A., 2003). In this present study, we extend this research to examine biases toward robots by assessing the association between humans and robots with negative and positive stimuli. Participants were recruited at a large southeastern university in the U.S. (n = 23, M_age = 19). The IAT was created in the Qualtrics survey engine where it contains 7 tasks. An improved scoring algorithm was used to examine reaction times from tasks 3, …

Public Privacy Concerns Of Operating Entities Use Of Unmanned Aerial Systems, Richard Lepore, Scott R. Winter

Human Factors and Applied Psychology Student Conference

This study examined one-hundred and sixty five U.S. participants’ privacy levels of concerns towards eight different entities operating unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The participants were presented with an individual scenario that was interchanged with the eight operating entities. With each interchanged scenario the participants were asked to assess overall privacy concern based on the operating entity utilizing the UAS. The operating entities used in the scenario were Amazon, the Government, the Military, Law Enforcement, Consulting, Construction, Hobbyist, and Real Estate. The results demonstrate that there is a difference between operating entity and genders; however both genders trend toward the same …

Uas Public Perception Towards Privacy And Multimedia Configuration, Vince Perry, Scott R. Winter

Human Factors and Applied Psychology Student Conference

The purpose of this study was to reveal public perception on the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) configurations of multimedia and provide a greater understanding of specific UAS configuration with respect to privacy. The participants were presented with four scenarios: audio multimedia, video multimedia, audio/video multimedia, and no multimedia. The data suggests that citizens are most concerned about privacy when the UAS was equipped with either video or audio/video capabilities. Privacy concerns were close to neutral when the UAS had no equipment on-board. In general, females were more concerned over privacy than males, except in the no equipment scenario. …

The Influence Of Appearance In Hri Selection, Dani Somerville, William Volante, Tracy Sanders, Peter Hancock

Human Factors and Applied Psychology Student Conference

No abstract provided.

Describing The User Experience Of Wearable Fitness Technology Through Online Product Reviews, Daniela Zapata-Ocampo

Human Factors and Applied Psychology Student Conference

Regular exercise has many health benefits, however a major problem in the United States is that Americans do not exercise enough to reap these advantages. Although there are many ways that one can be motivated to exercise, the use of wearable technologies such as fitness tracking devices show great promise as an individual, and cost effective solution. On the other hand, many people who try out these devices end up returning them, leading to lower device acceptance rates. We examined online product reviews for wearable fitness devices in order to discover which factors led to product acceptance or rejection. Devices …

Psychophysiological Response And Perceived Workload When Working With An Adaptive Automation., Larry Van Lue

Human Factors and Applied Psychology Student Conference

No abstract provided.

Attitudes Of Air Pollution From Commercial Aircraft: A Comparison Between Cultures And Genders, Sierra L. Gaenicke, Scott R. Winter, Stephen Rice, Ismael Cremer

Human Factors and Applied Psychology Student Conference

Studies have focused on cultural and gender differences based on perceptions of air pollution. Although these studies provided valuable information on cultural and gender differences on perceptions of air pollution, there have not been studies conducted regarding consumer’s perceptions on air pollution from commercial aircraft and their willingness to fly. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine how varying pollution levels influenced participant’s willingness to fly across two nationalities and genders.

In the study, five hundred and ninety-nine participants from India and the United States answered questions related to their attitudes toward flying on an aircraft emitting air …

Impact Of Auditory Affect On Urgent Behaviors On A Car Simulator, Cintya N. Larios, Mustapha Mouloua, Marc D. Gentzler

Human Factors and Applied Psychology Student Conference

Emotional content abounds the driver in different forms from billboard signs to in-vehicle devices to roadside situations. Such emotional scenes can result in unsafe driving behaviors and lead to collisions due to their ability to attract attentional resources and change driving goals to irrelevant ones (Megías et al. 2011b; Briggs et al, 2011). Recent studies have looked at the way auditory and visual emotional stimuli can impact individual’s decision under Evaluative and Urgent road environment behaviors. Evaluative behaviors are known as a categorization in which people judge a scene as risky or not, whereas Urgent behaviors are time sensitive, requiring …

Space Crew Composition: History Of Crew Demographics In Human Spaceflight, Chelsea Iwig, Carolyn Newton, Jason P. Kring

Human Factors and Applied Psychology Student Conference

No abstract provided.

Narratives In Video Games And User Experience, Emily E. Gonzalez-Holland

Human Factors and Applied Psychology Student Conference

This presentation will discuss how the narratives within video games create a better gaming experience for the player. Specifically, this presentation addresses user experience based on interactive and immersive narratives within the game. A narrative is a story or event presented in sequence; a narrative within a video game is the interactive storyline presented by the game designer. The key components of this paper rely heavily on user experience research done on video game interaction. This topic will cover human-computer interaction and immersion models which take into account interface interaction, user-defined tasking, and narrative building within video games. The importance …

Examining Methods To Induce Cognitive Fatigue, Fernando Montalvo, James Kozachuk, Michael A. Rupp, Jessica R. Michaelis, Daniel S. Mcconnell, Janan A. Smither

Human Factors and Applied Psychology Student Conference

Cognitive fatigue is important to user task productivity and worker safety in critical occupations because it may cause exhaustion and difficulty executing mental tasks leading to increased errors and job related injuries. Activities that require sustained focused attention over time (i.e. vigilance) increase stress and induce cognitive fatigue. In careers where safety is critical, such as aviation, homeland security, and medicine, these errors can lead to serious injury or even death. Therefore, studying this phenomenon is crucial for findings ways to ameliorate these deleterious effects. In order to study cognitive fatigue effects in a laboratory setting researchers need to find …

Investigating Superstitious Beliefs In Technology, Gabrielle Simon, Alejandra Sosa, Michael A. Rupp, Daniel S. Mcconnell Ph.D.

Human Factors and Applied Psychology Student Conference

We completed an online survey to access the relationship between a novel measure of superstitious technological beliefs (STBs), computer skill, computer use, technological trust, negative attitudes toward robots, paranormal, and anthropomorphic beliefs. Trust in complex technological systems (e.g. automation, robots, etc.) is an important factor determining whether those systems will be used appropriately, used outside of their capabilities, or not used at all which may lead to loss of human life or property. Previous research has indicated that individual differences (e.g. experience, skill) are important considerations in complex technological systems. However, more research is needed to determine how individual differences …

Examining The Restorative Effects Of Casual Video Games, Alejandra Sosa, Gabrielle Simon, Richard Sweetman, Michael A. Rupp, Daniel S. Mcconnell Ph.D.

Human Factors and Applied Psychology Student Conference

Individuals who work in highly stressful jobs (e.g. doctors, soldiers) struggle with the daily impact of stress-related cognitive fatigue. High-pressured job tasks and worry for job security can produce an unstable internal environment for the individual, where stress and cognitive workload can intensify. Stress-induced fatigue generates a multitude of overwhelming problems for the individual. Due to society’s growing demand of productivity and efficiency, there is an essential need for finding a cost effective way to reduce cognitive fatigue and stress for everyone. This study analyzed and compared three relaxation methods (break, meditation, & game) to determine the effectiveness of brief …

The American Girl Retail Experience, Michelle Sinagra, Rachel M. Cunningham, Katlin Anglin, Christina Frederick Dr.

Human Factors and Applied Psychology Student Conference

The American Girl brand is characterized by its ability to promote identity development in young girls through play and educational experiences. Due to the accessibility of smart-devices (e.g. mobile and web based technologies) and the frequency of their use, recent trends in toy designs have shown an increase in digital/technology features. Taking this into consideration, American Girl has continuously emphasized doll-centric products and experiences that also satisfy consumer’s digital interests. American Girl’s interactive digital resources include: the entire American Girl website which features a wide selection of Games, Apps, activities, e-cards, the InnerStar University (i.e., an interactive world for My …

A Human Factors Analysis Of Work In Food Pantries: A Case Study Of Two Local Pantries, Nicholas A. Higgins, Danielle S. Vanderhill, Keshia D. Pierre, Jeremy Dacruz, Nicholas W. Fraulini, Andrew B. Talone

Human Factors and Applied Psychology Student Conference

A Human Factors Analysis of Work in Food Pantries:

A Case Study of Two Local Pantries

Nicholas A. Higgins, B.S., Danielle S. Vanderhill, Keshia D. Pierre, Jeremy DaCruz, Nicholas W. Fraulini & Andrew B. Talone

University of Central Florida

ABSTRACT

The goal of the present study was to investigate the work environment and main work processes in two small food pantries from a human factors perspective. Current research on enhancing food pantries in general is very limited, especially with a focus on human factors improvements. This study specifically aimed to understand and evaluate food pantry design (i.e., the environment and …

Human Automation Systems In Spaceflight: The What, When And How Of Measurement, Chelsea Iwig, James M. Oglesby, Kevin L. Leyva, Misa Shimono, Kimberly Stowers, Eduardo Salas

Human Factors and Applied Psychology Student Conference

No abstract provided.

Stress Reduction: Casual Gaming Versus Guided Relaxation, Jenny L. Stanhope, Caresse Owens, L. Jo Elliott

Human Factors and Applied Psychology Student Conference

Stress Reduction: Casual Gaming or Guided Relaxation

Physiological and psychological stresses are gaining more interest as they are associated with many illnesses and diseases. The development of tools to reduce stress can help reduce the risk of illness and disease and improve treatment outcomes. Research has indicated that casual gaming can help reduce physiological and psychological stress. The present research investigates how casual gaming compares in the reduction of stress to guided relaxation and sitting quietly using a between subjects design. The results show that casual gaming can improve positive affect for mood more than meditation/guided relaxation and sitting quietly. …

Reactions To Internet Security Warnings: Personal Versus University Computers, Jenny L. Stanhope, L. Jo Elliott

Human Factors and Applied Psychology Student Conference

Many organizations use computer security systems to protect their computers from viruses, intrusion, malware, and other hazards. Additional employees, computer security software, and employee training are time consuming and expensive. It would be beneficial to determine what could be implemented to promote behaviors among employees or students that help to increase computer security. The purpose of the present research is to determine if computer ownership plays a role in reactions to internet security pop-up warnings. University students are asked to bring their personally owned computers to the psychology lab to take a reading comprehension test. The participants are randomly assigned …

Next-Gen Virtual Reality: A Comparative Study Of Immersive Tendency And Differential Presence, Tyler Mullis, Nathan A. Sonnenfeld, Matthew Meyers, Freddy Rincon

Human Factors and Applied Psychology Student Conference

Advancement in Virtual Reality (VR) interface technology in recent years has grown exponentially, resulting in the design and modification of a great number of devices to bring the experience of virtual environments (VE) to the user in ways only barely conceivable just two decades ago, for a variety of applications ranging from gaming to education to simulation-based training (SBT). Our study examines how the experience of being in one environment when one is physically situated in another (known as presence) is measured in current virtual reality interfaces against standard interface systems, both available as a conglomerate of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) …

Robot Autonomy And Malfunction Affects On Trust During Human Robot Interaction, Theresa Kessler

Human Factors and Applied Psychology Student Conference

Many factors affect how much trust a person places in a robotic system that they work with. In particular, the reliability of a robot is a current leader in predicting trust levels in Human Robot Interaction (HRI) (Hancock, et al., 2011). Because robots are built and programmed by fallible humans, it is likely that malfunctions will occur periodically during their operation. However, the question still remains as to how a robot’s decision making capacity (level of autonomy) combined with level of information (status and projected end state) they provide to the operator affect operator trust in the system. Previous studies …

Cultural Differences In Trust Of Space Tourism Travel, Donald Hill, Scott R. Winter, Stephen Rice

Human Factors and Applied Psychology Student Conference

Science fiction or not, commercial space travel is on the horizon. One of the most unknown concepts to public perception is the idea of traveling by spacecraft. The next frontier for mankind is space travel; however, there are many challenges that need to be met before space tourism travel becomes a reality. There are numerous companies on the cusp of making space travel a reasonable and affordable mode of transportation. Since the idea of traveling through space is so new, there is not a lot of data available about public perception. The purpose of this research, however, is to gather …