Effect of Injury Information on Damage Estimates

Abstract

Aircraft accident research has revealed a relationship between injury to the occupants and damage to the aircraft structure. The present study explores the possibility that judgments of damage are affected by knowledge of injury. Thirty-six male subjects estimated aircraft damage from 36 photographs of aircraft accidents. In connection with each photograph the subjects were provided with fictitious injury (as well as other) information. Accident photographs, subjects and injury levels were appropriately counterbalanced. The major hypothesis was supported. Accident-involved aircraft were given higher damage ratings when the photographs were presented with higher injury levels than when the same photographs were presented with lower injury levels. Suggestions are made for overcoming this bias which exists in the laboratory and which may exist in the field.