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A Psychophysiological Investigation of the State of Monotony amongst Air Traffic Controllers

A Psychophysiological Investigation of the State of Monotony amongst Air Traffic Controllers. Sonja Straussberger, Wolfgang Kallus & Dirk Schäfer. ICRAT 2004, Zilina. Introduction. Today’s talk. Relevance of Monotony for Air Traffic Controllers The Concept of Monotony

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A Psychophysiological Investigation of the State of Monotony amongst Air Traffic Controllers

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  1. A Psychophysiological Investigation of the State of Monotony amongst Air Traffic Controllers Sonja Straussberger, Wolfgang Kallus & Dirk Schäfer ICRAT 2004, Zilina

  2. Introduction Today’s talk • Relevance of Monotony for Air Traffic Controllers • The Concept of Monotony • Results of an Experimental Study Straussberger, S., Kallus, W. & Schäfer, D. ICRAT 2004, Zilina

  3. Introduction Monotony in ISO 10075 WORK ENVIRONMENT Mental Stress INDIVIDUAL Mental Strain Mental fatigue Reduced vigilance Mental satiation Monotony Activation Warming-up Impairing effects Facilitating Effects Straussberger, S., Kallus, W. & Schäfer, D. ICRAT 2004, Zilina

  4. Introduction What needs to be considered? • Ill-defined and mixed terms • Monotony (e.g., McBain, 1970) • Boredom (e.g., Mikulas & Vodanovich, 1993) • Underload (e.g., Young & Stanton, 2002) • Contributing factors? • Task Characteristics (e.g. Pfendl, 1985) • Personality Factors (e.g.Hill, 1975) • Situational Factors (e.g. Marvje & Horne, 1994) • Short-term and long-term impairments • (e.g.,Thackray, 1975; Kass, Vodanovich & Callender, 2001) Straussberger, S., Kallus, W. & Schäfer, D. ICRAT 2004, Zilina

  5. Introduction What is a State of Monotony? • Bartenwerfer’s concept of Monotony (1960, 1985): • Specific consequence in situations when continuous engagement in a restricted task is required • Tasks may be characterized by low stimulation, high repetition, low difficulty level, longer time on Task • Impacts on physiological, subjective and performance level Straussberger, S., Kallus, W. & Schäfer, D. ICRAT 2004, Zilina

  6. Introduction Research Questions In simulated Air Traffic Control– depending on repetitiveness and dynamic density (DD) in traffic … …is there a difference in physiological indicators for a state of monotony …is there a difference in subjective indicators for a state of monotony in Air Traffic Controllers? Straussberger, S., Kallus, W. & Schäfer, D. ICRAT 2004, Zilina

  7. Methods Experimental Design 2 (Break Activity) x 2 (Repetitiveness) x 2 (Sequence of DD) x 2 (Run) x 3 vs. 15 (Interval)-Mixed Design DD=Sequence of Dynamic Density in Traffic (high (H) - low (L) vs. H (High) – L (Low)) Straussberger, S., Kallus, W. & Schäfer, D. ICRAT 2004, Zilina

  8. Methods Operationalization of Repetitiveness & Dynamic Density Straussberger, S., Kallus, W. & Schäfer, D. ICRAT 2004, Zilina

  9. Methods Dependent Variables Physiological Measures: mean HR, mean HRV in 3-minute-intervals during scenarios Subjective State : During Scenario: attentiveness, fatigue, boredom, irritation, strain, concentration, motivation, sleepiness (TSI, Thackray et al., 1975; 7-point-rating-scale; ext.) After Scenario: Mental demand, physical demand, temporal demand, performance, effort, frustration, overall workload (NASA-TLX, Hart & Staveland, 1988) + feeling of monotony, SA Other measures collected Straussberger, S., Kallus, W. & Schäfer, D. ICRAT 2004, Zilina

  10. Results Physiological level: heart rate Average corrected HR during first and second run for groups with non repetitive (n=12) and repetitive (n=12) traffic (Repetitiveness: F1=4.41, p=.05; Run: F1= 17.68, p=.001) Straussberger, S., Kallus, W. & Schäfer, D. ICRAT 2004, Zilina

  11. Results Physiological level: HRV • Average HRV during first and second run for groups with non repetitive (n=12) and repetitive (n=12) traffic • (Repetitiveness: F1=7.52, p=.013; Run: F1= 24.98, p=.000) Straussberger, S., Kallus, W. & Schäfer, D. ICRAT 2004, Zilina

  12. Results Rating: “feeling of monotony” • Average ratings for feeling of monotony after first and second run as a function of repetitiveness and sequence of DD (Run x Repetitiveness: F1=8.83, p=.008; Run x Sequence: F1= 5.39, p=.031; Run x Repetitiveness x Sequence F2=10.57, p=.004) Straussberger, S., Kallus, W. & Schäfer, D. ICRAT 2004, Zilina

  13. Results Rating: “sleepiness” Average change from baseline in perceived sleepiness during first and second run for groups with non repetitive (n=12) and repetitive (n=12) traffic (Run: F1=14.35, p=.001; Interval: F2=17.80, p=.000; Run x Sequence: F1=8.44, p=.009; Run x Interval x Repetitiveness: F2=5.83, p=.011) Straussberger, S., Kallus, W. & Schäfer, D. ICRAT 2004, Zilina

  14. Discussion Summary & Discussion • Supports for Theory of Monotony: physiological deactivation • Self-reports more complex • Consideration of impairing and facilitating effects • Implications for work design, work organization and controller selection Straussberger, S., Kallus, W. & Schäfer, D. ICRAT 2004, Zilina

  15. Thank you for your attention! For further information: sonja.straussberger@eurocontrol.int

  16. Results Rating: “boredom” Average change from baseline in perceived boredom during first and second run for groups with non repetitive (n=12) and repetitive (n=12) traffic (Repetitiveness: F1=9.24, p=.006; Interval: F2=17.87, p=.000; Run x Repetitiveness: F1=5.14, p=.035; Interval x Repetitiveness: F2=22.69, p=.000) Straussberger, S., Kallus, W. & Schäfer, D. ICRAT 2004, Zilina

  17. Results Rating: “motivation” Mean ratings of motivation perceived boredom during first and second run for groups with non repetitive (n=12) and repetitive (n=12) traffic for each Sequence of DD from Run 1 to Run 2 (Run: F1=19.41 p=.000; Interval: F2=12.24, p=.000; Run x Sequence: F1=7.39, p=.013; Run x Repetitiveness x Sequence: F1=5.49, p=.03;) Straussberger, S., Kallus, W. & Schäfer, D. ICRAT 2004, Zilina

  18. Results Some more results: TXL • TLX: • Mental demand higher for nrep; • Temporal demand remains higher for nrep, from Run 1 to Run 2 decrease stronger for h-l as increase for l-h • Performance rated higher from nrep • Effort rated higher from nrep Straussberger, S., Kallus, W. & Schäfer, D. ICRAT 2004, Zilina

  19. Results Some more results: TSI • TSI: • Attentiveness remains constant for repetitive (rep) group and decreases for non-repetitive (nrep) group • Fatigue higher for H-L group; higher von nrep in Run 1 and rep in Run 2 • Concentration decreases more for nonrep • Sleepiness: increased over time, but more in Run 2 for h-l Straussberger, S., Kallus, W. & Schäfer, D. ICRAT 2004, Zilina

  20. Methods Participants 24 Enroute ATCOs 18 male, 6 female 21-47 years Straussberger, S., Kallus, W. & Schäfer, D. ICRAT 2004, Zilina

  21. Methods Procedure • min • Welcome, Summary of Controller Handbook, open questions 10 • Preparation of physiological measures + Questionnaires 40 • Training 40 • Baseline, Scales 5 • Run 1 45 • Baseline, Scales 30 • Run 2 45 • Baseline, Scales 30 • Break with vs. without activity 10 • Run 3 10 • Baseline, Scales 5 • Performance Tests 15 • Remove equipment 5 • Debriefing 10 Total Time 295 • Session Start 8:00 vs. 14:00 Straussberger, S., Kallus, W. & Schäfer, D. ICRAT 2004, Zilina

  22. Methods Dynamic Density • Traffic density (amount of AC) • Traffic complexity • Heading Change • Speed Change • Altitude Change • Minimum Distance 0-5 n.mi. • Minimum Distance 5-10 n.mi. • Predicted conflicts 0-25 n.mi. • Predicted conflicts 25-40 n.mi. • Predicted conflicts 40-70 n.mi. • (Controller intent) Laudemann et al. (1998) Straussberger, S., Kallus, W. & Schäfer, D. ICRAT 2004, Zilina

  23. Methods Independent Variables • Repetitiveness (repetitive vs. non-repetitive conflict patterns) • Sequence of Dynamic Density in Traffic (high (H) - low (L) vs. H - L) • 2 Runs (1. Scenario vs. 2. Scenario) • (Time over Scenarios) • [Activity in Rest Break] Straussberger, S., Kallus, W. & Schäfer, D. ICRAT 2004, Zilina

  24. Methods Further Variables • Continuous Variables: • RSQ (Recovery-Stress-Questionnaire, Kallus, 1995) • ACS-90 (Action Control Strategy, Kuhl, 1992) • Boredom Proneness Scale (Farmer & Sundberg, 1986) • Morningness-Eveningness-Scale (Horne & Ostberg, 1976) • Big Five Markers (Goldstein, 1992,1999) • Control Variables: • Initial State (FAL), age, sex, nationality, mother tongue, ratings for working position, experience, actual worked sector, handedness, body weight, body height, vision, smoking, time, room temperature, movement, respiration Straussberger, S., Kallus, W. & Schäfer, D.

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