Previous research on training and work analysis shows that expert knowledge represents a valuable resource for addressing use-inspired research questions and solving practical problems in these areas. Here, the body of principles, theory, and methods expertise research has accumulated were used to guide exploration of a new approach to a significant practical problem: Can human vision supplement the information that handheld landmine detection equipment provides its operators to increase detection rates and reduce the hazard of the task? The goal was to acquire objective, foundational knowledge on which visual detection training could be based. A representative set of defused landmines were buried at a field site with bare soil and vegetated surfaces using doctrinal procedures. High-resolution photographs of the ground surface were taken for approximately one month starting in April 2006. An analysis exploiting the perceptual sensitivity of expert observers showed signature photos to experts from related domains with instructions to identify the cues and patterns that defined the signatures. Analysis of experts' verbal descriptions identified a small set of easily communicable cues that characterize signatures and their changes over the duration of observation. Findings illustrate the value of exploiting the knowledge based perceptual selectivity of experts to identify critical features in perceptually complex domains and tasks.
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.ii
REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE
Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports (0704-0188), 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.