Abstract
In modern complex systems the role of the human operator has shifted from that of a system controller to more of a system supervisor. It is suggested that errors associated with these systems are often a result of technology-centered designs, which neglect the human element. Research shows that people do not always use classical decision making strategies in operational settings. This study investigated whether people, when faced with uncertainty, will employ naturalistic strategies within multiple alarm contexts. Thirty undergraduate students participated in this study, which showed that both the number and spatial proximity of multiple alarms will affect confidence in a given alarm with a known validity probability of 50%. Results suggest that presentational factors such as proximity or number of alarms may influence perceived alarm relationships, thus having both training and design implications.
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