@article{ref1,
title="Reaction times to consecutive automation failures: a function of working memory and sustained attention",
journal="Human factors",
year="2016",
author="Jipp, Meike",
volume="58",
number="8",
pages="1248-1261",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: This study explored whether working memory and sustained attention influence cognitive lock-up, which is a delay in the response to consecutive automation failures. <br><br>BACKGROUND: Previous research has demonstrated that the information that automation provides about failures and the time pressure that is associated with a task influence cognitive lock-up. Previous research has also demonstrated considerable variability in cognitive lock-up between participants. This is why individual differences might influence cognitive lock-up. The present study tested whether working memory-including flexibility in executive functioning-and sustained attention might be crucial in this regard. <br><br>METHOD: Eighty-five participants were asked to monitor automated aircraft functions. The experimental manipulation consisted of whether or not an initial automation failure was followed by a consecutive failure. Reaction times to the failures were recorded. Participants' working-memory and sustained-attention abilities were assessed with standardized tests. <br><br>RESULTS: As expected, participants' reactions to consecutive failures were slower than their reactions to initial failures. In addition, working-memory and sustained-attention abilities enhanced the speed with which participants reacted to failures, more so with regard to consecutive than to initial failures. <br><br>CONCLUSION: The findings highlight that operators with better working memory and sustained attention have small advantages when initial failures occur, but their advantages increase across consecutive failures. APPLICATION: The results stress the need to consider personnel selection strategies to mitigate cognitive lock-up in general and training procedures to enhance the performance of low ability operators.<br><br>© 2016, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0018-7208",
doi="10.1177/0018720816662374",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0018720816662374"
}