Situational awareness ability and cognitive skills training in a complex real-world task

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Human Factors Engineering
• Aerospace Psychology

Background:

• Situational awareness (SA) is crucial for success in complex dynamic environments.
• Domain-independent cognitive abilities underpin SA, influencing performance in real-world tasks.
• Lower underlying cognitive abilities correlate with poorer performance in demanding situations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if cognitive skills training can mitigate performance deficits in complex tasks due to limited SA.
• To examine the relationship between underlying SA ability and domain-specific SA measures.
• To explore the impact of planning-focused training on task performance.

Main Methods:

• Experiment 1: Cognitive management strategies training in a simulated air traffic control task.
• Experiment 2: Assessed the link between underlying SA ability and TRACON/SAGAT measures.
• Experiment 3: Focused on training planning and inter-element consideration.

Main Results:

• Both training methods reduced the negative impact of lower SA ability on task performance.
• Improved planning behavior was identified as a key factor in the third study's success.
• Individuals with higher underlying SA ability performed well across all training conditions.

Conclusions:

• Cognitive training interventions can enhance performance in complex dynamic tasks, even for those with lower baseline SA.
• Strategic planning and consideration of environmental interrelations are vital components of effective SA.
• Underlying cognitive abilities significantly influence the effectiveness of training and overall task success.