The Effect of Rule Flexibility on System Adaptation 1

Abstract

A study was performed to test the effect of strict vs. flexible operating rules on a simulated terminal air traffic control system under a variety of traffic conditions with constant load. Twelve college students were trained in control procedures, were assigned to two crews, and operated the system in a sequence of 24 problem sessions in which the variables were arranged in factorial combination. Only the change to more flexible rules produced consistently significant performance changes. The differences in the way the two crews responded to the changes in the rules depended on the degree of crew cohesiveness. A theoretical formulation of system adaptation derived from earlier studies with an air defense system is discussed, and a new formulation is presented which is consistent with the findings in both the present and the earlier studies.