Title :
The effect of knowledge levels on operators response to malfunctions and technical problems in the system
Author :
Gopher, Daniel ; Barzilai, Orly
Author_Institution :
Res. Center for Work Safety & Human Eng., Technion-Israel Inst. of Technol., Haifa, Israel
Abstract :
We describe the results of an experiment in which operators interacted with a simulated workstation, requiring the control of 5-8 stations for filling containers with hazardous liquids. In the course of work, different malfunctions occurred intermittently, and one of several compensatory behaviors had to be chosen, or the system could be halted and fixed by maintenance. One group of subjects was given only procedural knowledge and operation instructions. A second group received, in addition, detailed information on the structure and transfer functions of the system. Enhanced knowledge was harmful to performance in the early encounters with malfunctions. Subjects took more risks and misjudged their ability to cope with problems. Only with extended experience, augmented knowledge was beneficial to performance
Keywords :
behavioural sciences; human factors; man-machine systems; compensatory behaviors; enhanced knowledge; human factor; human operators response; knowledge level effect; operation instructions; procedural knowledge; system malfunctions; technical problems; Cognitive science; Containers; Control systems; Costs; Ergonomics; Filling; Humans; Liquids; Road accidents; Safety;
Conference_Titel :
Systems, Man and Cybernetics, 1993. 'Systems Engineering in the Service of Humans', Conference Proceedings., International Conference on
Conference_Location :
Le Touquet
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-0911-1
DOI :
10.1109/ICSMC.1993.384743
