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Title: Examining Energetic and Structural Components of Knowledge of Result Using a Vigilance Paradigm.
Creator: Fraulini, Nicholas, Szalma, James, Mouloua, Mustapha, Hancock, Peter, Matthews, Gerald, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Vigilance, or the ability to maintain attention to stimuli over a prolonged period of time (Davies (&) Parasuraman, 1982; Warm (&) Jerison, 1984), has been a troublesome research topic since World War II. Scientists have sought to counteract performance declines in vigilance tasks by training observers on these tasks. Though an extensive literature has been developed to examine the effectiveness of these techniques, the mechanisms by which many forms of vigilance training help performance are...
Show moreVigilance, or the ability to maintain attention to stimuli over a prolonged period of time (Davies (&) Parasuraman, 1982; Warm (&) Jerison, 1984), has been a troublesome research topic since World War II. Scientists have sought to counteract performance declines in vigilance tasks by training observers on these tasks. Though an extensive literature has been developed to examine the effectiveness of these techniques, the mechanisms by which many forms of vigilance training help performance are largely unknown. The present dissertation seeks to further the understanding of how two forms of training for vigilance, practice and knowledge of result, function to improve observers' ability to remain vigilant as time on task increases. In addition to understanding these forms of training, this dissertation seeks to develop a training protocol that would train observers for vigilance without adversely affecting their cognitive resources. Finally, this dissertation utilizes this new training protocol to examine the potential for transfer of training, which has been a question for vigilance researchers for decades. Results relating to these three research questions are presented, as well as a discussion of how these results may inform or influence vigilance research in the future.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0006876, ucf:51746
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006876

Title: Beyond Compliance: Examining the Role of Motivation in Vigilance Performance.
Creator: Dewar, Alexis, Szalma, James, Sims, Valerie, Hancock, Peter, Matthews, Gerald, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Vigilance, or sustained attention, is the capacity to attend to information for a prolonged period of time (Davies (&) Parasuraman, 1982; Jerison, 1970; Warm, 1977). Due to limitations of the human nervous system, as well as the environmental context, attention can begin to wane over time. This results in a phenomenon referred to as the vigilance decrement, or a decline in vigilance performance as a function of time. The vigilance decrement can manifest as poorer attention and is thusly...
Show moreVigilance, or sustained attention, is the capacity to attend to information for a prolonged period of time (Davies (&) Parasuraman, 1982; Jerison, 1970; Warm, 1977). Due to limitations of the human nervous system, as well as the environmental context, attention can begin to wane over time. This results in a phenomenon referred to as the vigilance decrement, or a decline in vigilance performance as a function of time. The vigilance decrement can manifest as poorer attention and is thusly associated with poor performance, which is defined behaviorally as more lapses in the detection of critical signals and an increase in response time to these signals during watch. Given this, the present dissertation seeks to systematically examine the impact of two types of motivation (i.e., achievement motivation, autonomous motivation) on vigilance performance across four experiments. The present experiments manipulate information processing type, source complexity, and motivational task demands. Three hundred and ninety-eight participants completed either a cognitive task or sensory task, which were psychophysically equated in previous studies (Szalma (&) Teo, 2012; Teo, Szalma, (&) Schmidt, 2011), with or without motivational instructions, and with either low, medium, or high source complexity. Performance measures, perceived stress and workload, and changes to state motivation and engagement at pre-task and post-task are interpreted across three theories of information processing: resource-depletion theory, mind-wandering theory, and mindlessness theory. The results of each of the four studies are discussed in terms of overall support for the resource-depletionist account. The limitations of the present set of experiments and the future directions for research on motivation and sustained attention are also discussed.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0006582, ucf:51312
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006582

Title: A Training Effectiveness Evaluation of UH-60A/L Simulated Environments: An Interdisciplinary Approach.
Creator: Goodwin, Martin, Reinerman, Lauren, Szalma, James, Goldiez, Brian, Goldberg, Benjamin, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The U.S. military continues to develop and expand its use of simulation-based aviation training. While traditional simulation-based training continues to be a proven training method, game-based simulation has become more sophisticated and may provide viable training options in some applications. The use of game-based simulation with traditional simulation-based training can potentially reduce costs, enhance return on investment, advance training objectives, and inform future training...
Show moreThe U.S. military continues to develop and expand its use of simulation-based aviation training. While traditional simulation-based training continues to be a proven training method, game-based simulation has become more sophisticated and may provide viable training options in some applications. The use of game-based simulation with traditional simulation-based training can potentially reduce costs, enhance return on investment, advance training objectives, and inform future training environment designs. Current fiscal limitations are driving the need for more efficient training methods, while operational requirements are dictating training protocols that produce optimum levels of readiness. The gap between fiscal constraints and desired training outcomes can be addressed by investigating whether lower-cost, game-based simulations may potentially augment higher-cost, traditional simulation-based training approaches for specific training tasks. Performing a valid investigation of the value of these simulation environments depends on a thorough evaluation of their training effectiveness. However, current approaches to Training Effectiveness Evaluation (TEE) do not adequately address the complete range of factors required to effectively investigate this gap. The present effort leverages research from human performance assessment, neurophenomenology, and instructional science to identify and integrate a set of empirically validated measures that contribute to training effectiveness. From this foundation, an interdisciplinary approach to performing TEEs for simulation training is introduced that addresses the shortcomings of current practices. This approach is validated in a use case involving the evaluation of U.S. Army Aviation collective training.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0006942, ucf:51671
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006942

Title: The Impact of Automation and Stress on Human Performance in UAV Operation.
Creator: Lin, Jinchao, Matthews, Gerald, Reinerman, Lauren, Szalma, James, Funke, Gregory, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The United States Air Force (USAF) has increasing needs for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operators. Automation may enable a single operator to manage multiple UAVs at the same time. Multi-UAV operation may require a unique set of skills and the need for new operators calls for targeting new populations for recruitment. The objective of this research is to develop a simulation environment for studying the role of individual differences in UAV operation under different task configurations and...
Show moreThe United States Air Force (USAF) has increasing needs for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operators. Automation may enable a single operator to manage multiple UAVs at the same time. Multi-UAV operation may require a unique set of skills and the need for new operators calls for targeting new populations for recruitment. The objective of this research is to develop a simulation environment for studying the role of individual differences in UAV operation under different task configurations and investigate predictors of performance and stress. Primarily, the study examined the impact of levels of automation (LOAs), as well as task demands, on task performance, stress and operator reliance on automation. Two intermediate LOAs were employed for two surveillance tasks included in the simulation of UAV operation. Task demand was manipulated via the high and low frequency of events associated with additional tasks included in the simulation. The task demand and LOA manipulations influenced task performance generally as expected. The task demand manipulations elicited higher subjective distress and workload. LOAs did not affect operator workload but affected reliance behavior. Also, this study examined the role of individual differences in simulated UAV operation. A variety of individual difference factors were associated with task performance and with subjective stress response. Video gaming experience was linked to lower distress and better performance, suggesting possible transfer of skills. Some gender differences were revealed in stress response, task performance, but all the gender effects became insignificant with gaming experience controlled. Generally, the effects of personality were consistent with previous studies, except some novel findings with the performance metrics. Additionally, task demand was found to moderate the influence of personality factors on stress response and performance metrics. Specifically, conscientiousness was associated with higher subjective engagement and performance when demands were higher. This study supports future research which aims to improve the dynamic interfaces in UAV operation, optimize operator reliance on automation, and identify individuals with the highest aptitude for multi-UAV control.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0006951, ucf:51630
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006951

Title: The Effects of Diagnostic Aiding on Situation Awareness under Robot Unreliability.
Creator: Schuster, David, Jentsch, Florian, Szalma, James, Mouloua, Mustapha, Shumaker, Randall, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: In highly autonomous robotic systems, human operators are able to attend to their own, separate tasks, but robots still need occasional human intervention. In this scenario, it may be difficult for human operators to determine the status of the system and environment when called upon to aid the robot. The resulting lack of situation awareness (SA) is a problem common to other automated systems, and it can lead to poor performance and compromised safety. Existing research on this problem...
Show moreIn highly autonomous robotic systems, human operators are able to attend to their own, separate tasks, but robots still need occasional human intervention. In this scenario, it may be difficult for human operators to determine the status of the system and environment when called upon to aid the robot. The resulting lack of situation awareness (SA) is a problem common to other automated systems, and it can lead to poor performance and compromised safety. Existing research on this problem suggested that reliable automation of information processing, called diagnostic aiding, leads to better operator SA. The effects of unreliable diagnostic aiding, however, were not well understood. These effects are likely to depend on the ability of the operator to perform the task unaided. That is, under conditions in which the operator can reconcile their own sensing with that of the robot, the influence of unreliable diagnostic aiding may be more pronounced. When the robot is the only source of information for a task, these effects may be weaker or may reverse direction. The purpose of the current experiment was to determine if SA is differentially affected by unreliability at different levels of unaided human performance and at different stages of diagnostic aiding. This was accomplished by experimentally manipulating the stage of diagnostic aiding, robot reliability, and the ability of the operator to build SA unaided. Results indicated that while reliable diagnostic aiding is generally useful, unreliable diagnostic aiding has effects that depend on the amount of information available to operators in the environment. This research improves understanding of how robots can support operator SA and can guide the development of future robots so that humans are most likely to use them effectively.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0005247, ucf:50577
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005247

Title: The Impact of Degraded Speech and Stimulus Familiarity in a Dichotic Listening Task.
Creator: Sinatra, Anne, Sims, Valerie, Hancock, Peter, Szalma, James, Chin, Matthew, Renk, Kimberly, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: It has been previously established that when engaged in a difficult attention intensive task, which involves repeating information while blocking out other information (the dichotic listening task), participants are often able to report hearing their own names in an unattended audio channel (Moray, 1959). This phenomenon, called the cocktail party effect is a result of words that are important to oneself having a lower threshold, resulting in less attention being necessary to process them ...
Show moreIt has been previously established that when engaged in a difficult attention intensive task, which involves repeating information while blocking out other information (the dichotic listening task), participants are often able to report hearing their own names in an unattended audio channel (Moray, 1959). This phenomenon, called the cocktail party effect is a result of words that are important to oneself having a lower threshold, resulting in less attention being necessary to process them (Treisman, 1960). The current studies examined the ability of a person who was engaged in an attention demanding task to hear and recall low-threshold words from a fictional story. These low-threshold words included a traditional alert word, (")fire(") and fictional character names from a popular franchise(-)Harry Potter. Further, the role of stimulus degradation was examined by including synthetic and accented speech in the task to determine how it would impact attention and performance.In Study 1 participants repeated passages from a novel that was largely unfamiliar to them, The Secret Garden while blocking out a passage from a much more familiar source, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Each unattended Harry Potter passage was edited so that it would include 4 names from the series, and the word (")fire(") twice. The type of speech present in the attended and unattended ears (Natural or Synthetic) was varied to examine the impact that processing a degraded speech would have on performance. The speech that the participant shadowed did not impact unattended recall, however it did impact shadowing accuracy. The speech type that was present in the unattended ear did impact the ability to recall low-threshold, Harry Potter information. When the unattended speech type was synthetic, significantly less Harry Potter information was recalled. Interestingly, while Harry Potter information was recalled by participants with both high and low Harry Potter experience, the traditional low-threshold word, (")fire(") was not noticed by participants. In order to determine if synthetic speech impeded the ability to report low-threshold Harry Potter names due to being degraded or simply being different than natural speech, Study 2 was designed. In Study 2 the attended (shadowed) speech was held constant as American Natural speech, and the unattended ear was manipulated. An accent which was different than the native accent of the participants was included as a mild form of degradation. There were four experimental stimuli which contained one of the following in the unattended ear: American Natural, British Natural, American Synthetic and British Synthetic. Overall, more unattended information was reported when the unattended channel was Natural than Synthetic. This implies that synthetic speech does take more working memory processing power than even an accented natural speech. Further, it was found that experience with the Harry Potter franchise played a role in the ability to report unattended Harry Potter information. Those who had high levels of Harry Potter experience, particularly with audiobooks, were able to process and report Harry Potter information from the unattended stimulus when it was British Natural. While, those with low Harry Potter experience were not able to report unattended Harry Potter information from this slightly degraded stimulus. Therefore, it is believed that the previous audiobook experience of those in the high Harry Potter experience group acted as training and resulted in less working memory being necessary to encode the unattended Harry Potter information. A pilot study was designed in order to examine the impact of story familiarity in the attended and unattended channels of a dichotic listening task. In the pilot study, participants shadowed a Harry Potter passage (familiar) in one condition with a passage from The Secret Garden (unfamiliar) playing in the unattended ear. A second condition had participants shadowing The Secret Garden (unfamiliar) with a passage from Harry Potter (familiar) present in the unattended ear. There was no significant difference in the number of unattended names recalled. Those with low Harry Potter experience reported significantly less attended information when they shadowed Harry Potter than when they shadowed The Secret Garden. Further, there appeared to be a trend such that those with high Harry Potter experience were reporting more attended information when they shadowed Harry Potter than The Secret Garden. This implies that experience with a franchise and characters may make it easier to recall information about a passage, while lack of experience provides no assistance. Overall, the results of the studies indicate that we do treat fictional characters in a way similarly to ourselves. Names and information about fictional characters were able to break through into attention during a task that required a great deal of attention. The experience one had with the characters also served to assist the working memory in processing the information in degraded circumstances. These results have important implications for training, design of alerts, and the use of popular media in the classroom.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFE0004256, ucf:49535
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004256

Title: An Exploration of the Feasibility of Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy as a Neurofeedback Cueing System for the Mitigation of the Vigilance Decrement.
Creator: Hancock, Gabriella, Szalma, James, Mouloua, Mustapha, Bohil, Corey, Hoffman, Robert, Matthews, Gerald, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Vigilance is the capacity for observers to maintain attention over extended periods of time, and has most often been operationalized as the ability to detect rare and critical signals (Davies (&) Parasuraman, 1982; Parasuraman, 1979; Warm, 1984). Humans, however, have natural physical and cognitive limitations that preclude successful long-term vigilance performance and consequently, without some means of assistance, failures in operator vigilance are likely to occur. Such a decline in...
Show moreVigilance is the capacity for observers to maintain attention over extended periods of time, and has most often been operationalized as the ability to detect rare and critical signals (Davies (&) Parasuraman, 1982; Parasuraman, 1979; Warm, 1984). Humans, however, have natural physical and cognitive limitations that preclude successful long-term vigilance performance and consequently, without some means of assistance, failures in operator vigilance are likely to occur. Such a decline in monitoring performance over time has been a robust finding in vigilance experiments for decades and has been called the vigilance decrement function (Davies (&) Parasuraman, 1982; Mackworth, 1948). One of the most effective countermeasures employed to maintain effective performance has been cueing: providing the operator with a reliable prompt concerning signal onset probability. Most protocols have based such cues on task-related or environmental factors. The present dissertation examines the efficacy of cueing when nominally based on operator state (i.e., blood oxygenation of cortical tissue) in a novel vigilance task incorporating dynamic displays over three studies. Results pertaining to performance outcomes, physiological measures (cortical blood oxygenation and heart rate variability), and perceived workload and stress are interpreted via Signal Detection Theory and the Resource Theory of vigilance.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0006599, ucf:51286
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006599

Title: Detecting Threats from Constituent Parts: A Fuzzy Signal Detection Theory Analysis of Individual Differences.
Creator: Van De Car, Ida, Szalma, James, Hancock, Peter, Mouloua, Mustapha, Kennedy, Robert, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Signal detection theory (SDT) provides a theoretical framework for describing performance on decision making tasks, and fuzzy signal detection theory (FSDT) extends this description to include tasks in which there are levels of uncertainty regarding the categorization of stimulus events. Specifically, FSDT can be used to quantify the degree to which an event is 'signal-like', i.e., the degree to which a stimulus event can be characterized by both signal and non-signal properties. For instance...
Show moreSignal detection theory (SDT) provides a theoretical framework for describing performance on decision making tasks, and fuzzy signal detection theory (FSDT) extends this description to include tasks in which there are levels of uncertainty regarding the categorization of stimulus events. Specifically, FSDT can be used to quantify the degree to which an event is 'signal-like', i.e., the degree to which a stimulus event can be characterized by both signal and non-signal properties. For instance, an improvised explosive device (IED) poses little threat when missing key elements of its assembly (a stimulus of low, but not zero, signal strength) whereas the threat is greater when all elements necessary to ignite the device are present (a stimulus of high signal strength). This research develops a link between key individual cognitive (i.e., spatial orientation and visualization) and personality (i.e., extroversion, conscientiousness, and neuroticism) differences among observers to performance on a fuzzy signal detection task, in which the items to be detected (IEDs) are presented in various states of assembly. That is, this research relates individual difference measures to task performance, uses FSDT in target detection, and provides application of the theory to vigilance tasks. In two experiments, participants viewed pictures of IEDs, not all of which are assembled or include key components, and categorize them using a fuzzy rating scale (no threat, low threat potential, moderate threat potential, or definite threat). In both experiments, there were significant interactions between the stimulus threat level category and the variability of images within each category. The results of the first experiment indicated that spatial and mechanical ability were stronger predictors of performance when the signal was ambiguous than when individuals viewed stimuli in which the signal was fully absent or fully present (and, thus, less ambiguous). The second study showed that the length of time a stimulus is viewed is greatest when the signal strength is low and there is ambiguity regarding the threat level of the stimulus. In addition, response times were substantially longer in study 2 than in study 1, although patterns of performance accuracy, as measured by the sensitivity index d', were similar across the two experiments. Together, the experiments indicate that individuals take longer to evaluate a potential threat as less critical, than to identify either an absence of threat or a high degree of threat and that spatial and mechanical ability assist decision making when the threat level is unclear. These results can be used to increase the efficiency of employees working in threat-detection positions, such as luggage screeners, provides an exemplar of use of FSDT, and contributes to the understanding of human decision making.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0006016, ucf:51015
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006016

Title: Integration of Multidimensional Signal Detection Theory with Fuzzy Signal Detection Theory.
Creator: O'Connell, Maureen, Szalma, James, Hancock, Peter, Bohil, Corey, Reinerman, Lauren, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Signal detection theory (SDT) has proven to be a robust and useful statistical model for analyzing human performance in detection and decision making tasks. As with many models extensions have been proposed in order capture and represent the real world to a greater degree. Multidimensional Signal Detection Theory (MSDT) has had success in describing and modeling complex signals, signals that are comprised by more than one identifiable component dimension. Fuzzy Signal Detection Theory (FSDT)...
Show moreSignal detection theory (SDT) has proven to be a robust and useful statistical model for analyzing human performance in detection and decision making tasks. As with many models extensions have been proposed in order capture and represent the real world to a greater degree. Multidimensional Signal Detection Theory (MSDT) has had success in describing and modeling complex signals, signals that are comprised by more than one identifiable component dimension. Fuzzy Signal Detection Theory (FSDT) has had success in modeling and measuring human performance in cases where there exist ambiguity in the signal or response dimension characteristics, through the application of fuzzy set theory to the definition of the performance outcome categories. Multidimensional Fuzzy Signal Detection Theory (MFSDT) was developed to accommodate simultaneously both the multidimensionality of a signal and the fuzzification of outcome categories in order to integrate the two extensions. A series of three studies were performed to develop and test the theory. One study's purpose was to develop and derive multidimensional mapping functions, the aspect of MFSDT where MSDT and FSDT were integrated. Two receiver operating characteristic (ROC) studies were performed, one simulated and one empirical. The results from both ROC analysis indicated that for perceptually separable and perceptually integral complex stimuli that MFDST is a viable methodological approach to analyzing performance of signal detection tasks where there are complex signals with ambiguous signal characteristics.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0005983, ucf:50763
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005983

Title: Enhancing the effectiveness of Human-Robot teaming with a closed-loop system.
Creator: Teo, Grace, Szalma, James, Jentsch, Florian, Hancock, Peter, Matthews, Gerald, Reinerman, Lauren, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: With the development in robotics and the increasing deployment of robots, human-robot teams are set to be a mainstay in the future. However, our understanding of the effectiveness and impact of this new form of teaming is limited. Previous experience with technology and automa-tion has shown that technological aids do not always result in the intended consequences of im-proved performance and alleviation of workload and stress. No doubt a large part of this is due to the fact that the...
Show moreWith the development in robotics and the increasing deployment of robots, human-robot teams are set to be a mainstay in the future. However, our understanding of the effectiveness and impact of this new form of teaming is limited. Previous experience with technology and automa-tion has shown that technological aids do not always result in the intended consequences of im-proved performance and alleviation of workload and stress. No doubt a large part of this is due to the fact that the relationships among taskload, workload and performance are complex as hu-man operators interact dynamically with tasks and technology. Measures of workload are also varied and differentially sensitive. There is also the added challenge posed by multi-tasking envi-ronments which typify most real-world situations. Given all this, efforts in designing technologi-cal aids, such as an adaptive robot aid in the context of human-robot teaming, would require a workload model that reflects the intricate relationship between taskload and the individual opera-tor's experience of workload. Such a model can then be used to drive a closed-loop system on which adaptive robot aiding can be based. The present research sought to investigate the effec-tiveness of a closed-loop system, based on a model of workload, in enhancing performance in a simulated military mission involving a human-robot team. Results showed that adaptive robot aid driven by workload needs as assessed by physiological measures resulted in greater improve-ments in performance compared to robot aid that was imposed by the system.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0006403, ucf:51485
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006403

Title: The Impact of Automation Reliability and Fatigue on Reliance.
Creator: Wohleber, Ryan, Matthews, Gerald, Reinerman, Lauren, Szalma, James, Funke, Gregory, Jentsch, Florian, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The objective of this research is to inform th(&)#172;(&)#172;e design of dynamic interfaces to optimize unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operator reliance on automation. A broad goal of the U.S. military is to improve the ratio of UAV operators to UAVs controlled. Accomplishing this goal requires the use of automation; however, the benefits of automation are jeopardized without appropriate operator reliance. To improve reliance on automation, this effort sought to accomplish several objectives...
Show moreThe objective of this research is to inform th(&)#172;(&)#172;e design of dynamic interfaces to optimize unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operator reliance on automation. A broad goal of the U.S. military is to improve the ratio of UAV operators to UAVs controlled. Accomplishing this goal requires the use of automation; however, the benefits of automation are jeopardized without appropriate operator reliance. To improve reliance on automation, this effort sought to accomplish several objectives organized into phases. The first phase aimed to validate metrics that could be used to gauge operator fatigue online, to understand how the reliability of automated systems influences subjective and objective responses, and to understand how the impact of automation reliability changes with different levels of fatigue. To that end, this study employed a multiple UAV simulation containing several tasks. Findings for a challenging Image Analysis task indicated a decrease in accuracy and reliance with time. Both accuracy and reliance were lower with an unreliable automated decision making aid (60% reliability) than with a reliable automated decision making aid (86.7% reliability). Further, a significant interaction indicated that reliance diminished more quickly when the automated aid was less reliable. Concerning the identification of possible eye tracking measures for fatigue, metrics for percentage of eye closure (PERCLOS), blinks, fixations, and dwell time registered changes with time on task. Fixation metrics registered reliability differences. The second phase sought to use outcomes from the first phase to build two algorithms, based on eye tracking, to drive continuous diagnostic monitoring, one simple and another complex. These algorithms were intended to diagnose the passive fatigue state of UAV operators and used subjective task engagement as the dependent variable. The simple algorithm used PERCLOS and total dwell time within the automated tasking area. The complex algorithm added percent of cognitive fixations and frequency of express fixations. The complex algorithm successfully predicted task engagement, primarily on the strength of percentage of cognitive fixations and express fixation frequency metrics.
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Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: CFE0006548, ucf:51323
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006548

Title: Understanding Human Performance and Social Presence: An Analysis of Vigilance and Social Facilitation.
Creator: Claypoole, Victoria, Szalma, James, Mouloua, Mustapha, Sims, Valerie, Hancock, Peter, Joseph, Dana, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Social facilitation is characterized by improved performance on simple, or well-known, tasks and impaired performance on complex, or unfamiliar, tasks. Previous research has demonstrated that the use of social presence may improve performance on cognitive-based tasks that are relevant to many organizational contexts, such as vigilance. However, to date, there has not been consolidation of the research regarding the different implementations of social facilitation, or any analysis indicating...
Show moreSocial facilitation is characterized by improved performance on simple, or well-known, tasks and impaired performance on complex, or unfamiliar, tasks. Previous research has demonstrated that the use of social presence may improve performance on cognitive-based tasks that are relevant to many organizational contexts, such as vigilance. However, to date, there has not been consolidation of the research regarding the different implementations of social facilitation, or any analysis indicating which types of social presence are best under varying conditions. The present dissertation describes three experiments that seek to contribute to a taxonomic framework of social facilitation. Experiment One statistically established a difference in task difficulty between twoversions of a cognitive-based vigilance task by utilizing increasing increments of event rate in order to examine the first factor of the taxonomy (i.e., level of difficulty). Experiment Two explored the effects of two novel manipulations of social presence, electronic performance monitoring (i.e., EPM) and co-acting, in order to demonstrate that both novel forms of social presence could improve performance, and were worth examining further. Finally, ExperimentThree replicated and extended the results of Experiments One and Two by examining the interaction effects of levels of task difficulty and social presence through the use of ten conditions. Overall the results indicates that multiple forms of social presence can improve cognitive performance, however, this effect was not moderated by the level of task difficulty, as suggestedby the predominant theories of social facilitation. This suggests that future work should seek to replicate and extend this finding in order to determine if the level of task difficult is indeed a moderating variable of social facilitation. Additionally, the results demonstrated that social presence could be used in organizational settings in order to improve employee performance, while also sometimes reducing the perceived workload associated with the task.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFE0006989, ucf:51631
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006989

Title: Assessing the Effectiveness of Workload Measures in the Nuclear Domain.
Creator: Mercado, Joseph, Reinerman, Lauren, Hancock, Peter, Lackey, Stephanie, Szalma, James, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: An operator's performance and mental workload when interacting with a complex system, such as the main control room (MCR) of a nuclear power plant (NPP), are major concerns when seeking to accomplish safe and successful operations. The impact of performance on operator workload is one of the most widely researched areas in human factors science with over five hundred workload articles published since the 1960s (Brannick, Salas, (&) Prince, 1997; Meshkati (&) Hancock, 2011). Researchers have...
Show moreAn operator's performance and mental workload when interacting with a complex system, such as the main control room (MCR) of a nuclear power plant (NPP), are major concerns when seeking to accomplish safe and successful operations. The impact of performance on operator workload is one of the most widely researched areas in human factors science with over five hundred workload articles published since the 1960s (Brannick, Salas, (&) Prince, 1997; Meshkati (&) Hancock, 2011). Researchers have used specific workload measures across domains to assess the effects of taskload. However, research has not sufficiently assessed the psychometric properties, such as reliability, validity, and sensitivity, which delineates and limits the roles of these measures in workload assessment (Nygren, 1991). As a result, there is no sufficiently effective measure for indicating changes in workload for distinct tasks across multiple domains (Abich, 2013). Abich (2013) was the most recent to systematically test the subjective and objective workload measures for determining the universality and sensitivity of each alone or in combination. This systematic approach assessed taskload changes within three tasks in the context of a military intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The purpose for the present experiment was to determine if certain workload measures are sufficiently effective across domains by taking the findings from one domain (military) and testing whether those results hold true in a different domain, that of nuclear. Results showed that only two measures (NASA-TLX frustration and fNIR) were sufficiently effective at indicating workload changes between the three task types in the nuclear domain, but many measures were statistically significant. The results of this research effort combined with the results from Abich (2013) highlight an alarming problem. The ability of subjective and physiological measures to indicate changes in workload varies across tasks (Abich, 2013) and across domain. A single measure is not able to measure the complex construct of workload across different tasks within the same domain or across domains. This research effort highlights the importance of proper methodology. As researchers, we have to identify the appropriate workload measure for all tasks regardless of the domain by investigating the effectiveness of each measure. The findings of the present study suggest that responsible science include evaluating workload measures before use, not relying on prior research or theory. In other words, results indicate that it is only acceptable to use a measure based on prior findings if research has tested that measure on the exact task and manipulations within that specific domain.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFE0005666, ucf:50188
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005666

Title: Plugging Up the Leaky STEM Pipeline with a Stereotype Threat Mentoring Intervention.
Creator: Xavier, Luiz, Fritzsche, Barbara, Szalma, James, Jentsch, Kimberly, Ben-Zeev, Avi, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The present study compared the effectiveness of different mentoring programs at reducing feelings of stereotype threat experienced by women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. Stereotype threat refers to the extra pressure a person feels to disprove a negative stereotype that applies to him or her. Because stereotype threat has been found to undermine performance and interest in stereotyped domains, it may be a key factor contributing to female underrepresentation in...
Show moreThe present study compared the effectiveness of different mentoring programs at reducing feelings of stereotype threat experienced by women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. Stereotype threat refers to the extra pressure a person feels to disprove a negative stereotype that applies to him or her. Because stereotype threat has been found to undermine performance and interest in stereotyped domains, it may be a key factor contributing to female underrepresentation in STEM fields. Mentors and prot(&)#233;g(&)#233;s were placed in either a stereotype threat reduction condition in which mentors and prot(&)#233;g(&)#233;s were encouraged to participate in discussions designed to reduce stereotype threat, an academic condition in which mentors and prot(&)#233;g(&)#233;s were encouraged to discuss academic goals and challenges, or a non-academic condition in which mentors and prot(&)#233;g(&)#233;s were encouraged to discuss the challenges of balancing non-school commitments. It was hypothesized that mentoring that focused specifically on stereotype threat reduction would be the most effective in reducing stereotype threat and increasing intentions to remain in STEM fields. In addition, it was hypothesized that stereotype threat reduction mentoring would be the most effective at increasing beliefs in an incremental theory of intelligence (i.e., the belief that intelligence can be developed through hard work) and decreasing beliefs in an entity theory of intelligence (i.e., the belief that intelligence is innate and is unalterable). Mentors were 36 male and 74 female upper-level STEM college students and prot(&)#233;g(&)#233;s were 137 female lower-level STEM college students. Participants met online for 30 minutes, once per week, for 3 weeks. Results indicated that both mentors and prot(&)#233;g(&)#233;s in the stereotype threat reduction mentoring condition reported feeling less stereotype threat in their STEM classes than mentors and prot(&)#233;g(&)#233;s in the other mentoring conditions. Additionally, the frequency in which self-theories were discussed in the mentoring sessions partially mediated the effects of the stereotype threat reduction condition on prot(&)#233;g(&)#233;s' feelings of stereotype threat in their STEM classes. Mentors and prot(&)#233;g(&)#233;s in the stereotype threat reduction mentoring condition also reported endorsing incremental theories of intelligence more and endorsing entity theories of intelligence less than mentors and prot(&)#233;g(&)#233;s in the other conditions. In summary, the present study's findings suggest that in order maximum stereotype threat reduction to occur in a mentoring relationship, mentors and prot(&)#233;g(&)#233;s engage in activities and discussions designed to reduce stereotype threat. Given that prior research has found that decreased stereotype threat, decreased entity theories of intelligence, and increased incremental theories of intelligence are associated with greater interest and performance in STEM domains, the utilization of a stereotype threat reduction mentoring program can help address the underrepresentation of women in science, technology, engineering, and math related fields.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFE0005445, ucf:50372
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005445

Vigilance (5)	+ -
automation (4)	+ -
human-robot interaction (3)	+ -
workload (3)	+ -
COVIS (2)	+ -

Cognition (2)	+ -
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Fuzzy Signal Detection Theory (2)	+ -
Individual Differences (2)	+ -
Multimodal (2)	+ -
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category learning (2)	+ -
decision making (2)	+ -
eye tracking (2)	+ -
individual differences (2)	+ -
motivation (2)	+ -
multiple resource theory (2)	+ -
trust (2)	+ -
Absolution Magnitude Estimation (1)	+ -
Analogical Problem Solving (1)	+ -
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Szalma, James (34)	+ -
University of Central Florida (34)	+ -
Hancock, Peter (14)	+ -
Mouloua, Mustapha (11)	+ -
Reinerman, Lauren (8)	+ -

Matthews, Gerald (7)	+ -
Jentsch, Florian (6)	+ -
Neider, Mark (6)	+ -
Bohil, Corey (5)	+ -
Sims, Valerie (4)	+ -
Joseph, Dana (3)	+ -
Funke, Gregory (2)	+ -
Jentsch, Kimberly (2)	+ -
Lackey, Stephanie (2)	+ -
Pharmer, James (2)	+ -
Taylor, Grant (2)	+ -
Abich, Julian (1)	+ -
Alicia, Thomas (1)	+ -
Behal, Aman (1)	+ -
Ben-Zeev, Avi (1)	+ -
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