13,530 research outputs found
Blink Rate Variability during resting and reading sessions
It has been shown that blinks occur not only to moisturize eyes and as a
defensive response to the environment, but are also caused by mental processes.
In this paper, we investigate statistical characteristics of blinks and blink
rate variability of 11 subjects. The subjects are presented with a
reading/memorization session preceded and followed by a resting session. EEG
signals were recorded during these sessions. The signals from the two front
electrodes were then analyzed, and times of the blinks were detected. We
discovered that compared to the resting sessions, reading session is
characterized by a lower number of blinks. However, there was no significant
difference in standard deviation in the blink rate variability. We also noticed
that in terms of complexity measures, the blink rate variability is located
somewhere in between white and pink noises, being closer to the white noise
during reading. We also found that the average of inter-blink intervals
increases during reading/memorization, thus longer inter-blink intervals could
be associated with a mental workload
A novel qualitative prospective methodology to assess human error during accident sequences
Numerous theoretical models and techniques to assess human error were developed since the 60's. Most of these models were developed for the nuclear, military, and aviation sectors. These methods have the following weaknesses that limit their use in industry: the lack of analysis of underlying causal cognitive mechanisms, need of retrospective data for implementation, strong dependence on expert judgment, focus on a particular type of error, and/or analysis of operator behaviour and decision-making without considering the role of the system in such decisions. The purpose of the present research is to develop a qualitative prospective methodology that does not depend exclusively on retrospective information, that does not require expert judgment for implementation and that allows predicting potential sequences of accidents before they occur. It has been proposed for new (or existent) small and medium- scale facilities, whose processes are simple. To the best of our knowledge, a methodology that meets these requirements has not been reported in literature thus far. The methodology proposed in this study was applied to the methanol storage area of a biodiesel facility. It could predict potential sequences of accidents, through the analysis of information provided by different system devices and the study of the possible deviations of operators in decision-making. It also enabled the identification of the shortcomings in the human-machine interface and proposed an optimization of the current configuration.Fil: Calvo Olivares, Romina Daniela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientÃficas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ingenieria. Instituto de Capacitación Especial y Desarrollo de IngenierÃa Asistida por Computadora; ArgentinaFil: Rivera, Selva Soledad. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ingenieria. Instituto de Capacitación Especial y Desarrollo de IngenierÃa Asistida por Computadora; ArgentinaFil: Núñez Mc Leod, Jorge Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientÃficas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ingenieria. Instituto de Capacitación Especial y Desarrollo de IngenierÃa Asistida por Computadora; Argentin
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The inner and inter construct associations of the quality of data warehouse customer relationship data for problem enactment
This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Business Administration and awarded by Brunel University on behalf of Henley Management College.The literature identifies perceptions of data quality as a key factor influencing a wide
range of attitudes and behaviors related to data in organizational settings (e.g.
decision confidence). In particular, there is an overwhelming consensus that effective
customer relationship management, CRM, depends on the quality of customer data.
Data warehouses, if properly implemented, enable data integration which is a key
attribute of data quality. The literature highlights the relevance of formulating
problem statements because this will determine the course of action. CRM managers
formulate problem statements through a cognitive process known as enactment.
The literature on data quality is very fragmented. It posits that this construct is of a
high order nature (it is dimensional), it is contextual and situational, and it is closely
linked to a utilitarian value. This study addresses all these disperse views of the
nature of data quality from a holistic perspective. Social cognitive theory, SCT, is the
backbone for studying data quality in terms of information search behavior and
enhancements in formulating problem statements.
The main objective of this study is to explore the nature of a data warehouse's
customer relationship data quality in situations where there is a need for
understanding a customer relationship problem. The research question is What are the
inner and inter construct associations of the quality of data warehouse customer
relationship data for problem enactment?
To reach this objective, a positivistic approach was adopted complemented with
qualitative interventions along the research process. Observations were gathered with
a survey. Scales were adjusted using a construct-based approach. Research findings
confirm that data quality is a high order construct with a contextual dimension and a
situational dimension. Problem sense making enhancements is a dependent variable
of data quality in a confirmed positive association between both constructs. Problem
sense making enhancements is also a high order construct with a mastering
experience dimension and a self-efficacy dimension. Behavioral patterns for
information search mode (scanning mode orientation vs. focus mode orientation) and
for information search heuristic (template heuristic orientation vs. trial-and-error
heuristic orientation) have been identified. Focus is the predominant information
search mode orientation and template is the predominant information search heuristic
orientation. Overall, the research findings support the associations advocated by
SCT. The self-efficacy dimension in problem sense making enhancements is a
discriminant for information search mode orientation (focus mode orientation vs.
scanning mode orientation). The contextual dimension in data quality (i.e. data task
utility) is a discriminant for information search heuristic (template heuristic
orientation vs. trial-and-error heuristic orientation).
A data quality cognitive metamodel and a data quality for problem enactment model
are suggested for research in the areas of data quality, information search behavior,
and cognitive enhancements.
iiiTeradata, NC
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Effects of practice variability and distribuion of practice on musicians' performance of a procedural skill
I designed three experiments to determine how procedural memory consolidation in a music task is affected by practice under different conditions of speed regulation and different time intervals between practice sessions. Ninety-two nonpianist musicians practiced a 9-note sequence with their nondominant hand on a digital piano in three sessions, each of which comprised 3 blocks of 15 performance trials. In Experiment 1 (n= 31), participants were instructed to perform as quickly and accurately as possible but determined their own tempos in each trial. In Experiment 2 (n = 31), three defined practice tempos (M. M. = 52, 72, and 92) were externally regulated in a stable practice procedure in which tempo changed between, not within, blocks. In Experiment 3 (n =30), the same three tempos were externally regulated in a variable practice procedure in which practice tempo changed from trial to trial within each block. In each experiment, three different groups' practice sessions were separated by either 5 min, 6 hr, or 24 hr. Consistent with previous descriptions of procedural memory consolidation, the results of Experiment 1 show that note accuracy improved significantly between Sessions 1 and 2 only when the sessions were separated by a 24-hr interval that included sleep; performance speed improved in all groups between Sessions 1 and 2, and between Sessions 2 and 3 when sessions were separated by 6 or 24 hr. In Experiment 2 (stable practice) there were significant improvements in note and tempo accuracy between Sessions 1 and 2 when those sessions were separated by 5 min or 6 hr, but not when the sessions were separated by 24 hr. In Experiment 3 (variable practice), note accuracy improved between Sessions 1 and 2 only when the sessions were separated by a 24-hour interval that included sleep; there were no significant improvements in tempo accuracy, perhaps due to the high physical demands of matching varying target tempos in successive trials. These results demonstrate that motor skill learning in music is affected by the time interval between practice sessions, and that the effects of distributed practice are dependent upon practice conditions.Musi
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