Other Psychiatry and Psychology Commons^™

The Impact Of A Support Group For Mentors, Joel Bates

Senior Honors Theses

In recent years, mentoring has been recognized by organizations and researchers as having great importance and potential. One of the three major mentoring fields, youth mentoring has been utilized and noted as a source of support and benefit for youth. Although some reviews are conflicted, the literature has largely shown this practice of guiding youth to be effective in helping to produce improved outcomes for children later in life. Researchers have also found evidence for the benefits of mentoring for mentors that can be explained within the context of Erikson’s psychosocial theory of development. The program that was studied for …

The Role Of Parental Cognitive, Behavioral, And Motor Profiles In Clinical Variability In Individuals With Chromosome 16p11.2 Deletions, Andres Moreno-De-Luca, David W. Evans, K B. Boomer, Ellen Hanson, R Bernier, R. P. Goin-Kochel, S. M. Myers, Thomas D. Challman, Daniel Moreno-De-Luca, Mylissa M. Slane, Abby E. Hare, W K. Chung, J. Spiro, W. A. Faucett, C. L. Martin, David H. Ledbetter

Faculty Journal Articles

Importance Most disorders caused by copy number variants (CNVs) display significant clinical variability, often referred to as incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity. Genetic and environmental sources of this variability are not well understood.

Objectives To investigate the contributors to phenotypic variability in probands with CNVs involving the same genomic region; to measure the effect size for de novo mutation events; and to explore the contribution of familial background to resulting cognitive, behavioral, and motor performance outcomes in probands with de novo CNVs.

Design, Setting, and Participants Family-based study design with a volunteer sample of 56 individuals with de novo 16p11.2 …

Spatial And Temporal Characteristics Of Error-Related Activity In The Human Brain, Maital Neta, Francis M. Miezin, Steven M. Nelson, Joseph W. Dubis, Nico U.F. Dosenbach, Bradley L. Schlaggar, Steven E. Petersen

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

A number of studies have focused on the role of specific brain regions, such as the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex during trials on which participants make errors, whereas others have implicated a host of more widely distributed regions in the human brain. Previous work has proposed that there are multiple cognitive control networks, raising the question of whether error-related activity can be found in each of these networks. Thus, to examine error-related activity broadly, we conducted a meta-analysis consisting of 12 tasks that included both error and correct trials. These tasks varied by stimulus input (visual, auditory), response output (button …

Behind The Scenes Of The Nas: Human Factors Taxonomy For Investigating Service Integrity Events, Katherine A. Berry, Michael W. Sawyer, Jordan Hinson

International Symposium on Aviation Psychology - 2015

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) deployed the Service Integrity Risk Analysis Process (SI-RAP) with the goal of assessing the risk of technical occurrence events where the ability to provide safe air traffic management technical services is compromised. As a post-event tool, SI-RAP assesses the risk associated with an occurrence based on severity and repeatability. The SI-RAP taxonomy was developed to provide a consistent framework for supporting the assessment of event repeatability. The SI-RAP taxonomy synthesizes existing human factors taxonomies with customized factors representing the technical operations domain. The SI-RAP taxonomy is comprised of four tiers: Personnel Factors, Contextual Factors, Equipment …

Techniques For The Human Centered Evaluation Of Designs For The Future Aviation System, Philip J. Smith, Kathy Abbott, Lawrence J. Prinzel, Amy Pritchett, Tanya Yuditsky

International Symposium on Aviation Psychology - 2015

In order to evaluate new operational concepts, system designs, procedures and technologies for the future aviation system, we need to develop and validate a range of techniques to ensure the safe and effective performance of human-machine systems. This becomes increasingly important as such systems incorporate increasing levels of automation and autonomy for technologies, and as they attempt to integrate increasingly complex subsystems. It is challenging to evaluate the individual components of such systems relative to meeting their design requirements. It is orders of magnitude more challenging to evaluate performance when they are embedded in the larger system context. While there …

Pupillary Response As An Indicator Of Processing Demands Within A Supervisory Control Simulation Environment, Ciara Sibley, Joseph Coyne, Akshith Doddi, Phillip Jasper

International Symposium on Aviation Psychology - 2015

Current Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operator task demands are highly variable and unbalanced across team members, resulting in sub-optimal operator utilization which leads to mishaps. This has driven the Department of Defense’s desire for more flexible team structures and task allocation tools. Unobtrusive and continuous measures of operator state are needed to effectively allocate tasking to operators and prevent errors. Twenty participants completed two twenty minute supervisory control sessions where task load was manipulated by varying event frequency (e.g., information requests) and eye tracking data was collected. Pupillometry data revealed increased mean and maximum pupil sizes with increased task load …

The Effects Of Bright Light Intervention On Flight Crew Behavioral Alertness And Cognitive Fatigue, Lori Brown, Geoffrey Whitehurst

International Symposium on Aviation Psychology - 2015

The study aimed to investigate the efficacy of bright light intervention to improve behavioral alertness and reduce cognitive fatigue in flight crew-members. During the four week study, crewmembers wore actigraph bands to monitor sleep behaviors. Self-assessed levels of sleepiness were recorded using the Karlosinska Sleepinees Scale (KSS), and self-assessed fatigue was measured using the Samn-Perelli (SP) fatigue scale. Participants completed psychomotor vigilance tests (PVT) to measure behavioral alertness. On the third and fourth weeks of the study, participants were exposed to short wavelength bright light (465nm blue) light intervention. The results show that there was a significant difference in alertness …

Cognitive Engineering: What's Old Is New Again, Ronald John Lofaro

International Symposium on Aviation Psychology - 2015

This paper presents what began as a specific task analysis methodology developed in the context of what then was called knowledge engineering. The resultant model was based on Fleishmann's concept of underlying abilities coupled Delphi techniques and small group dynamics. Core features were the use of small groups of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and, a highly structured workshop environment. The model was termed the Small Group Delphi Paradigm (SGDP). As time past, its usage in a variety of aviation venues, ranging from selection to training proficiency, resulted in modifications and refinements. Thus, it became more than just a task analysis …

Social Complexity: The Missing Link In A Critical Incident Reporting System, Jaco Van Der Westhuizen, Karel Stanz

International Symposium on Aviation Psychology - 2015

The safe operation of complex socio-technical systems depends on the reporting of safety critical incidents by operators within a system. Through the action of reporting, systems develop the capability as learning organizations to improve human and organizational performance. The research paper will provide a social construction understanding of reporter behavior that is influenced by the safety management system and the context of reporting, within an Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) in Africa. A case study methodology was applied with complementing inductive coding and thematic content analysis to explore underlying explanations for underreporting behavior. Four main themes emerged: Knowledge Management, Decentralized …

Training Manned-Unmanned Teaming Skills In Army Aviation, Susan R. Flaherty, Martin L. Bink

International Symposium on Aviation Psychology - 2015

Current Army Aviation combat operations utilize an employment strategy that teams a rotary wing aircraft with an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), thereby leveraging strategic advantages of each aircraft’s unique capabilities, endurance, and payloads. Clear and effective communications between the airborne helicopter pilot and the ground-based UAS operator are critical for successful Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) missions. Previous studies have recommended additional training in tactical communications for the UAS payload operator in order to support precision and timeliness in teaming engagements. In accordance with Army Learning Model 2015, an engaging, skills-adaptive, computer game was developed to train critical MUM-T skills for the …

Saccade Detection Using Polar Coordinates – A New Algorithm, Matt Middendorf, Christina Gruenwald, Lucas Stork, Samantha Hoepf, Scott Galster

International Symposium on Aviation Psychology - 2015

Over the past few decades substantial research has been conducted regarding saccades (rapid eye movements). There are two components of this research. First there is the detection of the saccades, and second how to interpret the saccades features (amplitude, length, and velocity) to inform specific areas of research. This involves both experimental research and clinical applications. The detection of saccades is typically accomplished using two approaches, including cameras and the electrooculogram (EOG). Both of these approaches require algorithms to process the raw data, detect saccades, and calculate the saccade features. The current effort focuses on detecting saccades in the EOG …

Conceptual And Procedural Training For Situation Awareness And Performance In An Instrument Holding Task, Andrew R. Dattel, Jennifer E. Thropp

International Symposium on Aviation Psychology - 2015

An exploratory approach that investigated the differences between conceptually and procedurally trained participants in situation awareness (SA) and performance of instrument holds was conducted. The step-by-step actions required to fly instrument holds were emphasized in the procedural training group. The interrelationship of elements in a dynamic environment was emphasized in the conceptual group. Participants were tested in two simulated instrument holding pattern scenarios. The second holding pattern was designed to be more complex. A trend was found where the conceptual group showed less altitude deviation (M = 399.22) than the procedural group (M = 599.74). Participants were asked six SA …

Effect Of Control Latency On Unmanned Aircraft Systems During Critical Phases Of Flight, Carolina M. Zingale, Eric G. Taylor

International Symposium on Aviation Psychology - 2015

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) are controlled remotely via terrestrial or satellite-based radio link rather than by a pilot in the cockpit. The remote nature of the transmission results in latencies (time between pilot input and feedback indicating aircraft response) that are typically longer than those in manned aircraft. Researchers from the FAA Human Factors Branch conducted a simulation to investigate the effect of control latencies during takeoff and landing scenarios in UAS with low levels of automation. We evaluated one of four latencies (180, 494, 750, 1026 ms) in each test scenario. Half of the scenarios included crosswinds. Data obtained …

Toward A Human Performance Standard Of Excellence In Air Traffic Management, Paul Krois, Damien Armenis, Rémi Joly, Barry Kirwan, Claire Marrison, Neil May, Dino Piccione, Michaela Schwarz

International Symposium on Aviation Psychology - 2015

Air Traffic Management (ATM) is a 24/7 industry that strongly depends on people and needs its frontline staff to be on top performance to maintain safety and efficiency of the air transport system. However, Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) too often downplay the integration of human performance against higher priority operational and business issues. At the same time, human factors experts are sometimes challenged in communicating their tools and methods in ways that are seen as pertinent to ANSP issues. In order to bridge these organizational stove pipes, an international approach is being harmonized for ANSPs to gauge their maturity …

Age And Trust In Flight Attendants: A Comparison Between Two Countries, Rian Mehta, Natasha Rao, Ethan Labonte, Stephen Rice

International Symposium on Aviation Psychology - 2015

It is important for passengers to trust their flight attendants, especially in case of an emergency. There is ongoing debate in India regarding trust and the lowering of retirement age, which is currently mandatory at 58 years in flight attendants. Some believe this is in order to acquire younger, more attractive flight attendants. The current study asked 384 Indians and Americans to rate their trust in flight attendants based on an emergency situation. Results showed that Indians trusted the younger flight attendants (25 years old) more than their older counterparts (55 years old). These findings have theoretical and practical implications …

Incorporating New Methods Of Classifying Domain Information For Use In Safety Hazard Analysis, Nancy G. Leveson, Daniel R. Montes, Leia A. Stirling

International Symposium on Aviation Psychology - 2015

The increase of interacting humans and autonomous components in complex systems necessitates rigorous methods to classify domain information pertaining to controllers in the system. Systems-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) was developed at MIT as a method for identifying hazardous scenarios from a system design in order to generate functional system requirements to eliminate or control those scenarios. An STPA analysis, while systems-based and including human operators (e.g., pilots and air-traffic controllers) in the scenarios, is currently limited in the types of human contribution to accidents that it can identify (which are primarily related to situation awareness). This paper extends STPA in …

Experimental Evaluation Of Varying Feedback Of A Cognitive Agent System For Uav Mission Management, Elisabeth Denk, Sebastian Clauss, Annike Borchers, Josef Werner, Axel Schulte

International Symposium on Aviation Psychology - 2015

In this study we investigate on a cognitive delegation agent for UAV task-based mission management. Particularly, we advocate a specific high-level feedback provided by the agent to the human operator to enhance mission effectiveness. As extension to human supervisory control we suggest to introduce the concept of agent supervisory control where the agent is delegated by high-level operator commands and controls several sub-systems aboard the UAV fulfilling the mission in highly automated fashion. Results of our experimental human-in-the-loop study focusing on the effects of high-level feedback are presented. Therefore, two configurations are compared, one with basic feedback and one with …

Flight Deck Interval Management Avionics: Eye-Tracking Analysis, Kara Latorella, John W. Harden

International Symposium on Aviation Psychology - 2015

Interval Management (IM) is one NexGen method for achieving airspace efficiencies. In order to initiate IM procedures, Air Traffic Control provides an IM clearance to the IM aircraft’s pilots that indicates an intended spacing from another aircraft (the target to follow – or TTF) and the point at which this should be achieved. Pilots enter the clearance in the flight deck IM (FIM) system; and once the TTF’s Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast signal is available, the FIM algorithm generates target speeds to meet that IM goal. This study examined four Avionics Conditions (defined by the instrumentation and location presenting FIM information) …

Multi-Gain Control: Balancing Demands For Speed And Precision, Lucas Lemasters, John Flach

International Symposium on Aviation Psychology - 2015

Woodworth's Two-Component model (1899) partitioned speeded limb movements into two distinct phases: (1) a central ballistic open-loop mechanism and (2) a closed-loop feedback component. The present study investigated the implementation of multi-gain control configurations that utilized separate gain values optimized for each movement phase. A target acquisition task using Fitts' Law (1954) was performed within a virtual environment using multiple control devices with three gain settings: (1) mono-gain, (2) dual-gain, and (3) continuous gain. It was found that dual-gain and continuous gain configurations yielded lower movement times and information-processing rates than the mono-gain configurations. The secondary gain values presented in …

Impact Of Weather Information Latency On General Aviation Pilot Situation Awareness, Barrett S. Caldwell, Mary E. Johnson, Geoffrey Whitehurst, Vladimir Rishukin, Nsikak Udo-Imeh, Lucero Duran, Megan M. Nyre, Lauren Sperlak

International Symposium on Aviation Psychology - 2015

A critical element of situation awareness and sensemaking support for humans in complex environments is the ability to access, detect, and integrate environmental elements to recognize and project the state of the world. Some past research has suggested that new weather technology capabilities in general aviation (GA) flight settings could help improve pilot decision making and reduce accidents such as unintentional transitions from visual flight rules (VFR) to marginal VFR or even instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). This paper addresses an ongoing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funded research project investigating the effect of transmission delays and update latencies in presentations of …