Skilled driving requires complex cognitive and recognitional abilities. We used a Cognitive Task Analysis (CTA) and a low tech simulation to study experience linked differences in these abilities. Inexperienced (n=18) and experienced (n=17) drivers participated. The inexperienced drivers struggled with control. They worked to keep their car between the lines and execute turns. In time, automatized performance replaced conscience control. Some situations, like icy roadways, were automatized later than others. As driving reached automaticity, drivers began attending to a wider range of cues. They predicted and avoided problems. A broader view of the roadway emerged in parallel with the development of anticipation. We also observed that experienced drivers were more likely to know their limits and adopted effective compensatory strategies. The Dreyfus & Dreyfus (1986) model of expertise is used to describe these systematic changes. Protocol analysis suggested guidelines for training novice drivers and for upgrading skills of long term drivers.
Standards and existing literature provide guidance regarding methodologies for symbol comprehension testing, but practical guidance for the practitioner conducting this type of testing is scarce. This paper shares observations and experiences gained over the course of multiple symbol testing projects. Specifically, the paper addresses pros and cons of written vs. oral questionnaire administration and resulting comprehension scores, sample size and the concept of “statistical equivalence” to ANSI Z535.3 criteria, various participant recruitment methods and interview locations, and the importance of explaining the context in which a symbol appears. The lessons learned and tips provided in this paper begin to fill the information gaps that practitioners encounter when making numerous design, methodological, and practical decisions required for safety symbol comprehension studies.
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