Airport Security Screener Problem-Solving Knowledge and Implications

Abstract

Objective: This research investigates security screeners’ knowledge and the effect that differences in knowledge have on the performance of problem-solving activities. We argue that the development of problem-solving knowledge enables security screeners to perform effective problem-solving activity, which assists search and decision-making processes. Background: Airport security screening research has investigated the many variables that affect security screeners’ search and decision making during simulated threat-detection tasks. Although search and decision making are essential aspects of security screening, few studies have investigated the problem-solving knowledge and activities that support security screening task performance. Method: Sixteen more-experienced and 24 less-experienced security screeners were observed as they performed x-ray screening in the field at an Australian international airport’s departure security checkpoint. Participants wore eye-tracking glasses and delivered concurrent verbal protocol. Results: When interacting with other security screeners, more-experienced screeners demonstrated situational knowledge more than less-experienced screeners, whereas less-experienced screeners experienced more insufficient knowledge. Lag-sequential analysis using combined data from both screener groups showed that situational knowledge facilitated effective problem-solving activity to support search and decision making. Insufficient knowledge led screeners to seek assistance and defer decision making. Conclusion: This study expands current understandings of airport security screening. It demonstrates that security screeners develop knowledge that is specific to problem solving. This knowledge assists effective problem-solving activity to support search and decision making, and to mitigate uncertainty during the x-ray screening task. Application: Findings can inform future security screening processes, screener training, and technology support tools. Furthermore, findings are potentially transferable to other domains.

Novice to Expert Real-time Knowledge Transition in the Context of X-ray Airport Security

“…Problem-solving phases are comprised of activity used to support search and decision making. This includes the examination of unknown objects as well as interactions with other staff and the interface functions to gain more information (Swann et al, 2019). All the behaviours and knowledge during the problem-solving process may be interspersed with each other while search and downtime (periods of inactivity) are usually performed as isolated activity (Figure 2).…”

“…A reasonable amount of research has been conducted on the factors effective for developing the security screening process at airports (Graves et al, 2011;Swann, 2016;Swann et al, 2019;Swann et al, 2015). However, the knowledge transition from novice to expert during performing the real task has not been well investigated.…”

Clear Aligners and Smart Eye Tracking Technology as a New Communication Strategy between Ethical and Legal Issues

“…Facial features around the eyes can also be recorded (e.g., skin color, presence of wrinkles, moles, and facial expressions). All these elements, like fingerprints and palatal rugae, are unique characteristics of the subject and contribute to defining the subject for biometric identification (including age, gender, and ethnicity) [ 71 ]. This information can also be detected when the sensor is a common smartphone camera, as in this case [ 68 ].…”

Diseases That Occur Prior to Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Identification of Predisposing and Risk Factors Using Lag Sequential Analysis

“…It has been used in many different research fields, in particular for behavioral observation of normal subjects, psychiatric patients, children, and athletes [14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. LSA has also been applied to support problem-solving and decision-making in the airport security screening process [21]. It can also be used to evaluate the actions of verbal and nonverbal communication of patients with depression during treatment [17].…”