Attention focus
Richard S. Jensen (jensen.6_at_osu.edu)
Wed, 15 Apr 1998 07:36:00 -0400 (EDT)
I've got a question for the group that has a different twist. I have heard,
read, and taught my students that focus of attention is important in
aviation. It was found to be the single best predictor of combat pilot
performance in Israel (Gopher and Kahneman, 1971). Many are still using it
in research using dichotic listening and visual tasks, as seen in the
Symposium presentations. I think that it is at the heart of attitude
management and judgment in civil aviation. Recently, I have been looking at
the ag pilot safety problem and listening to them talk, focus of attention
is one of their hardest tasks, especially when under fatigue or pressure
from economic, personal, environmental, or business sources.
Can someone tell me how to teach pilots to control or focus their attention?
Also, can someone tell me how to test for attention control in a LOFT, LOS,
or MOST scenario that is realistic to flight. I have challenged my students
to this task but was wondering if any one out there can help us.
By the way, all of the 9th Symposium proceedings (both hard copy and CD
versions) have now been mailed to those who have paid for them. If you have
not received yours, please let me know. Overseas people may need yet to wait
some time for hard copies.
Finally, mark your calendars for the 10th Symposium on Aviation Psychology
-- May 2-7, 1999. The call for papers will go out in July this year.
Dick Jensen