The argument is presented that we too often label human acts which lead to accidents as idiosyncratic rather than as part of the normal variability in expected performance and that this tendency impedes progress in understanding causation. Some choice reaction time data is examined in terms of variability as related to skill, work session length, alcohol stress, sleep deprivation and compatibility. Analytic distributions are examined as to their possible applicability and properties of their far right tails.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BroadbentD.E.Decision and Stress, London: Academic Press, 1971.
2.
CohenJ.DearnaleyC.E.M.HanselM.A.Risk and hazard; the risk taken in crossing a road; and the risk taken in driving under the influence of alcohol. Haddon, Suchman and Klein. Accident Research: Methods and Approaches.New York: Harper, 1964.
3.
ColquhounW.P.EdwardsR.S.Interaction of noise with alcohol on a task of sustained attention. Ergonomics, 1975, 28, 81–87.
4.
CrossmanE.R.F.W.A theory of acquisition of speedskill. Ergonomics, 1959, 2, 153–166.
5.
DeGreeneK.B.Systems analysis techniques. Systems Psychology, (DeGreene, Edit.), New York: McGraw-Hill, 1970.
6.
FalmagneJ.C.TheiosJ.On attention and memory in reaction time experiments. Attention and Performance, II, (KosterW.G., Edit.) Amsterdam: North-Holland, 1969, 316–323.
HaddenW.Jr.SuchmanE.A.KleinD.Accident Research: Methods and Approaches.New York: Harper, 1964.
9.
KvålsethTareld O.Distribution of movement time in a target-aiming task. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1976, 43, 507–513.
10.
LupkerS.J.TheiosJ.Further tests of a two-state model for choice reaction times. J. Exper Psychol: Hum Perception and Performance, 1977, 3, 496–504.
11.
McGillW.J.GibbonJ.The general-gamma distribution and reaction times. J. of Math Psychol., 1965, 2, 1–18.
12.
MihalW.L.BarrettG.B.Individual differences in perceptual information processing and their relation to automobile accident involvementJ. of App'l. Psychol., 1971, 61, 229–233.
13.
PoltrockS.E.A comparison of two response procedures for reaction time experiments. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 1976, 7, 334–336.
14.
RatcliffR.MurdockB.B.Jr.Retrieval processes in recognition memory. Psychol. Rev., 1976, 83, 190–214.
15.
RestleF.The Psychology of Judgement and Choice.New York: Wiley, 1961.
16.
RobinsonG.H.Accidents and human performance. New York: Society of Automotive Engineers. Report 680555, 1968.
17.
RobinsonG.H.KothB.W.RingenbachJ.P., Dynamics of the eye and head during an element of visual search. Ergonomics, 1976, 19, 691–709.
18.
RobinsonG.H.PeeblesW.J.Interactions between alcohol, task difficulty and compatibility in a choice-reaction task. Perceptual and Motor Skills.1974, 38, 459–466.
19.
SalvendyG.SeymourW.D.Prediction and Development of Industrial Work Performance.New York: Wiley, 1973.
20.
SandersA.F.HoogenboomW.On the effects of continuous active work on performance. Attention and Performance, III (SandersA.F., Edit.) Amsterdam: North Holland, 1970.
21.
StanovichK.E.PachellaR.G.Encoding, stimulus-response compatibility, and stages of processing. J. Exp. Psychol: Hum Perception and Performance, 19773, 411–421.
22.
StaveA.M.The effects of cockpit environment on long-term pilot performance. Human Factors, 1977, 19, 503–514.
23.
SurryJ.Industrial Accident Research: A Human Engineering AppraisalToronto: Ontario Ministry of Labor, 1974.
24.
SwainA.D.Design Techniques for Improving Human Performance in Production and The Human Element in Systems Safety.Surrey (UK): In Com Tec, 1974.
25.
WilkensonR.T.Interaction of lack of sleep with knowledge of results, repeated testing and individual differences. J. Exper. Psychol., 1961, 62, 263–271.
26.
WinsemiusW.Some ergonomic aspects of safety. Ergonomics, 1965, 8, 151–162.
27.
WoodC.C.JenningsJ.R.Speed-accuracy trade-off functions in choice reaction time: Experimental designs and computational procedures. Perception and Psychophysics, 1976, 19, 92–101.
