Task complexity related training effects on operation error of spaceflight emergency task

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate the training effects on the operation errors of Chinese operators when they conduct spaceflight emergent tasks with different complexity. Twenty-eight operators participated in one training experiment and took nine tasks which were divided into three complexity levels based on complexity measures. Six operation errors were recognized based on one engineering classification method. The results showed that training can reduce the errors significantly in practice trails. Different effects were also found on operation errors of tasks with varying complexity. Training did not exert significant influence on some error types, such as time estimation error, which might rely more on the inherent cognitive ability. In test trails, training differentially reduced errors on the high-complexity tasks, but showed no effect on the other tasks. The results implied that future training programs should be designed based on the complexity of tasks and the cognitive characteristics of astronauts. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.