The Impact of Time Pressure and Experience on Information Search and Decision-Making Processes

Abstract

The goal of this research was to examine the diagnosis and decision processes of pilots when dealing with conflicting information. The loose coupling between decision processes and an event outcome makes it hard for researchers to use data such as accident reports as reliable indicators of the quality of decisions, and one problem faced by researchers is determining the extent to which pilot decision processes during events are faulty. We examined pilot strategies in a Web-based automated cockpit scenario as a function of time pressure condition (present vs. absent) and experience with automated systems. Time pressure had an impact on time to diagnosis and information accessed for more experienced pilots only. Pilots who accessed more information were more likely to make accurate diagnoses but were less confident in them. Neither time pressure nor experience had a main effect on diagnosis accuracy or confidence. More experienced pilots tended to conduct a thorough information search when under no time pressure, but time pressure caused pilots of all experience levels to accelerate and filter their information search. Results highlight the importance of training for coherent information use under time pressure given the complexities of automated aircraft.