An analysis of the effectiveness of written driver license examinations in evaluating applicant driving abilities. Task 3 - Arizona classified license system.

Arizona Department of Transportation, Phoenix

Analytical modeling of driver response in crash avoidance maneuvering. Volume IV: user's guide for linear analysis, nonlinear simulation, part task simulation. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Dade County Trauma Task Force: a multi-system comparative analysis.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Light truck aggressivity study - task 3: analysis report. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

A study of matrix analysis methods for inelastic structures. Project no. 1467, Task no. 146701, prepared under Contract no. AF 33 (657)-8717 by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Aeroelastic and Structures Research Laboratory.

Cover title.

Report of the ADAMHA Manpower Policy Analysis Task Force.

Mode of access: Internet.

Study and analysis of portability and reciprocity : report on Task A : extent and characteristics of pension plans having portability or reciprocity features /

"Pension and Welfare Benefit Programs. Prepared under Contract J-9-P-8- 0191."

An analysis of relational complexity in an air traffic control conflict detection task

Theoretical analyses of air traffic complexity were carried out using the Method for the Analysis of Relational Complexity. Twenty-two air traffic controllers examined static air traffic displays and were required to detect and resolve conflicts. Objective measures of performance included conflict detection time and accuracy. Subjective perceptions of mental workload were assessed by a complexity-sorting task and subjective ratings of the difficulty of different aspects of the task. A metric quantifying the complexity of pair-wise relations among aircraft was able to account for a substantial portion of the variance in the perceived complexity and difficulty of conflict detection problems, as well as reaction time. Other variables that influenced performance included the mean minimum separation between aircraft pairs and the amount of time that aircraft spent in conflict.

Self-efficacy and task performance: An investigation from two levels of analysis and specificity

This research adopts a resource allocation theoretical framework to generate predictions regarding the relationship between self-efficacy and task performance from two levels of analysis and specificity. Participants were given multiple trials of practice on an air traffic control task. Measures of task-specific self-efficacy and performance were taken at repeated intervals. The authors used multilevel analysis to demonstrate dynamic main effects, dynamic mediation and dynamic moderation. As predicted, the positive effects of overall task specific self-efficacy and general self-efficacy on task performance strengthened throughout practice. In line with these dynamic main effects, the effect of general self-efficacy was mediated by overall task specific self-efficacy; however this pattern emerged over time. Finally, changes in task specific self-efficacy were negatively associated with changes in performance at the within-person level; however this effect only emerged towards the end of practice for individuals with high levels of overall task specific self-efficacy. These novel findings emphasise the importance of conceptualising self-efficacy within a multi-level and multi-specificity framework and make a significant contribution to understanding the way this construct relates to task performance.

Goal orientation, ability and task performance: A moderated analysis

Achievement goal orientation represents an individual's general approach to an achievement situation, and has important implications for how individuals react to novel, challenging tasks. However, theorists such as Yeo and Neal (2004) have suggested that the effects of goal orientation may emerge over time. Bell and Kozlowski (2002) have further argued that these effects may be moderated by individual ability. The current study tested the dynamic effects of a new 2x2 model of goal orientation (mastery/performance x approach/avoidance) on performance on a simulated air traffic control (ATC) task, as moderated by dynamic spatial ability. One hundred and one first-year participants completed a self-report goal orientation measure and computerbased dynamic spatial ability test and performed 30 trials of an ATC task. Hypotheses were tested using a two-level hierarchical linear model. Mastery-approach orientation was positively related to task performance, although no interaction with ability was observed. Performance-avoidance orientation was negatively related to task performance; this association was weaker at high levels of ability. Theoretical and practical implications will be discussed.

On waveform analysis, the adaptive task technique, and the effect of vibration on manual control skill

A re-examination of fundamental concepts and a formal structuring of the waveform analysis problem is presented in Part I. eg. the nature of frequency is examined and a novel alternative to the classical methods of detection proposed and implemented which has the advantage of speed and independence from amplitude. Waveform analysis provides the link between Parts I and II. Part II is devoted to Human Factors and the Adaptive Task Technique. The Historical, Technical and Intellectual development of the technique is traced in a review which examines the evidence of its advantages relative to non-adaptive fixed task methods of training, skill assessment and man-machine optimisation. A second review examines research evidence on the effect of vibration on manual control ability. Findings are presented in terms of percentage increment or decrement in performance relative to performance without vibration in the range 0-0.6Rms'g'. Primary task performance was found to vary by as much as 90% between tasks at the same Rms'g'. Differences in task difficulty accounted for this difference. Within tasks vibration-added-difficulty accounted for the effects of vibration intensity. Secondary tasks were found to be largely insensitive to vibration except secondaries which involved fine manual adjustment of minor controls. Three experiments are reported next in which an adaptive technique was used to measure the % task difficulty added by vertical random and sinusoidal vibration to a 'Critical Compensatory Tracking task. At vibration intensities between 0 - 0.09 Rms 'g' it was found that random vibration added (24.5 x Rms'g')/7.4 x 100% to the difficulty of the control task. An equivalence relationship between Random and Sinusoidal vibration effects was established based upon added task difficulty. Waveform Analyses which were applied to the experimental data served to validate Phase Plane analysis and uncovered the development of a control and possibly a vibration isolation strategy. The submission ends with an appraisal of subjects mentioned in the thesis title.

The relationship between cognitive ability, the big five, task and contextual performance: a meta-analysis

For years, researchers and human resources specialists have been searching for predictors of performance as well as for relevant performance dimensions (Barrick & Mount, 1991; Borman & Motowidlo, 1993; Campbell, 1990; Viswesvaran et al., 1996). In 1993, Borman and Motowidlo provided a framework by which traditional predictors such as cognitive ability and the Big Five personality factors predicted two different facets of performance: 1) task performance and 2) contextual performance. A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the validity of this model as well as that of other modified models. The relationships between predictors such as cognitive ability and personality variables and the two outcome variables were assessed. It was determined that even though the two facets of performance may be conceptually different, empirically they overlapped substantially (p= .75). Finally, results show that there is some evidence for cognitive ability as a predictor of both task and contextual performance and conscientiousness as a predictor of both task and contextual performance. The possible mediation of predictor-- criterion relationships was also assessed. The relationship between cognitive ability and contextual performance vanished when task performance was controlled.

An Analysis of Individual Differences for a Computer Self-Regulated Reading Comprehension Task

Recent developments in brain imagery have made it possible to explore links between brain functions and psychological phenomena, opening a window between mind, brain and behavior. However, behavior cannot be understood solely by looking at the brain alone; the roles of the context, task, and practice are potent forces in shaping behavior. According to these ideas, we present a work experience to reflect on: 1) the variations of how people learn, 2) the learning potential of students with learning disabilities, and 3) computers as a tool to learn and to analyze student’s reading comprehension processes. In this vein, we present and discuss an example of how different types of readers (average, dyslexia, and hemispherectomy) undertake a computer self-regulated reading comprehension task. This is not an experimental research study and results cannot be generalized. Theoretical and educational implications are discussed in line with the proposed aims.

Hierarchical Task Network Planning with Common-Sense Reasoning for Multiple-People Behaviour Analysis

Safety on public transport is a major concern for the relevant authorities. We
address this issue by proposing an automated surveillance platform which combines data from video, infrared and pressure sensors. Data homogenisation and integration is achieved by a distributed architecture based on communication middleware that resolves interconnection issues, thereby enabling data modelling. A common-sense knowledge base models and encodes knowledge about public-transport platforms and the actions and activities of passengers. Trajectory data from passengers is modelled as a time-series of human activities. Common-sense knowledge and rules are then applied to detect inconsistencies or errors in the data interpretation. Lastly, the rationality that characterises human behaviour is also captured here through a bottom-up Hierarchical Task Network planner that, along with common-sense, corrects misinterpretations to explain passenger behaviour. The system is validated using a simulated bus saloon scenario as a case-study. Eighteen video sequences were recorded with up to six passengers. Four metrics were used to evaluate performance. The system, with an accuracy greater than 90% for each of the four metrics, was found to outperform a rule-base system and a system containing planning alone.