Tasks for estimating human error tendency

Abstract

This study was aimed at developing tasks corresponding to six types of human error, which cause serious railway accidents. Types of human error have been classified by a combination of two dimensions induced by a cognitive human error mechanism. One dimension is deficiency of attention, which includes distraction and saturation of attention factors, the other an activation failure of a procedural schema for action and decision, which includes inactivation of a correct procedural schema, an activated habitual incorrect schema, and activated efficient incorrect schema factors. A psychological task was configured for each of the five factors: a digit recitation task for distraction of attention; a vigilance task for saturation of attention; a prospective memory task for inactivation of correct procedural schema; a Stroop task for activated habitual incorrect schema; and another Stroop task after training involving naming a color as a congruent stimulus task for activated efficient incorrect schema. Six human error tasks were configured incorporating these subordinate tasks.