Doctoral Dissertation Research: Towards a Theory of Mind Wandering in Relation to Task Type, Behavioral Responses, and Respective Adverse Consequences in the Cockpit

这个博士论文改进补助金支持合作PI的研究，以调查任务无关的思维，即走神和当时正在执行的任务之间的关系。 这项研究的重点是驾驶舱飞行甲板环境中的行为，将研究某些任务特征是否与较高的走神发生率有关，以及走神事件是否与人为错误有关。 在智力价值方面，本研究将根据现有文献、调查研究和认知任务分析中的既定发现，建立一个关于走神对任务绩效影响的理论。 该理论将在模拟飞行控制系统的背景下进行实验测试。 这项研究的更广泛的影响是，它将通过定义一个理论结构的走神和开发指标来衡量这个结构在操作员控制的系统中，推进对人为因素的认识和理解。此外，这项研究将产生一个任务分类，以解释什么时候最有可能发生走神，并提出新的方法，定期重新参与运营商的方式，最大限度地减少疲劳，增加态势感知，并提高性能在运营商控制的系统。

This Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant supports research by the co-PI to investigate the relationship between task-unrelated thinking, that is, mind wandering and the task that is being executed at the time. The research, focusing on behavior in a cockpit flight deck environment, will examine whether certain task features are related to higher incidence of mind wandering and whether incidents of mind wandering are related to human error. In terms of intellectual merit, the research will develop a theory of the consequences of mind wandering on task performance based on established findings in the existing literature, survey research and cognitive task analysis. The theory will be tested experimentally in the context of a simulated flight control system. The broader impact of this research is that it will advance knowledge and understanding in Human Factors by defining a theoretical construct for mind wandering and developing metrics for measuring this construct in operator controlled systems. In addition, this research will yield a task-taxonomy to explain when mind wandering is most likely to occur and suggest new methods to periodically re-engage operators in ways that minimize fatigue, increase situation awareness, and improve performance in operator controlled systems.