Ranking: Perceptions of Tied Ranks and Equal Intervals on a Modified Visual Analog Scale

This study examined a novel paper-based ranking system (called the BINS format) that was designed to address two limitations of traditional ranking formats. This new system allows respondents to: 1) assign ties to ranked alternatives and 2) indicate distance between ranked alternatives. Participants reported high satisfaction with the ability to express ties using the BINS format, and preferred to use a ranking format that allowed for ties over a format that did not. Two versions of the BINS format (a numbered continuum and an unnumbered continuum) were compared to examine participants’ perception of the distance between ranked alternatives. When a numbered continuum was used, participants saw the relationship between ranked alternatives as both multiplicative and divisible; conversely, participants using the unnumbered continuum did not see either relationship. This lends support to the notion that participants perceived the numbered BINS format as having equal psychological intervals

A Study of Out-of-turn Interaction in Menu-based, IVR, Voicemail Systems

We present the first user study of out-of-turn interaction in menu-based, interactive voice-response systems. Out-ofturn interaction is a technique which empowers the user (unable to respond to the current prompt) to take the conversational initiative by supplying information that is currently unsolicited, but expected later in the dialog. The technique permits the user to circumvent any flows of navigation hardwired into the design and navigate the menus in a manner which reflects their model of the task. We conducted a laboratory experiment to measure the effect of the use of outof- turn interaction on user performance and preference in a menu-based, voice interface to voicemail. Specifically, we compared two interfaces with the exact same hierarchical menu design: one with the capability of accepting out-ofturn utterances and one without this feature. The results indicate that out-of-turn interaction significantly reduces task completion time, improves usability, and is preferred to the baseline. This research studies an unexplored dimension of the design space for automated telephone services, namely the nature of user-addressable input (utterance) supplied (in-turn vs. out-of-turn), in contrast to more traditional dimensions such as input modality (touch-tone vs. text vs. voice) and style of interaction (menu-based vs. natural language)

An Annotated Bibliography of Objective Pilot Performance Measures

FINAL REPORT - February-September 1981Author William F. Moroney taught at NPS in Operations Research and Naval Aviation Safety. Author Ted R. Mixon was a student in Operations Research.[Robert] Buckout's review in 1962 was the last comprehensive examination of the pilot performance measurement PPM literature. This annotated bibliography attempts to 1 gather the PPM literature written subsequent to 1962 into one source 2 describe the scenarios and measures used in collecting PPM data and 3 summarize the major premises and findings of each article. A variety of sources including computer aided literature search were used to identify candidate articles. Ultimately all referenced material was divided into three categories 1 objective pilot performance measurement 2 subjective pilot performance measures and 3 general analysis and review articles. The objective performance measure category was arranged as follows Field Conditions, Simulator Conditions, Laboratory Conditions, and Combination of Field Conditions, Simulator andor Laboratory Conditions. For each of the objective measure articles reviewed, the following parameters were reported subjects, equipment, scenario, measures and summary. For the subjective measures and general analysis and review articles the authors abstract was generally duplicated. In addition to the 189 articles addressing objective performance measurement, 30 articles dealing with subjective measures and 143 related analyses and review articles are contained in the bibliography.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Questionnaire Design: How to Ask the Right Questions of the Right People at the Right Time to Get the Information You Need

This book explores how a well-designed questionnaire is customer-focused, simplifying the process for the respondent and thereby increasing both validity and response rates. It is recommended for use by psychologists, sociologists, political scientists, marketers, and other professionals. Questionnaires, like any well-designed interface, should be intuitive. This manual provides a fool-proof approach to questionnaire design for practitioners, marketers, and researchers with little or no formal training. It provides practical instruction regarding what to do and how to do it and supports these instructions with real-world examples and findings from scientific studies. An augmenting website contains additional guidance, examples, a case study, and tools for designing a successful questionnaire.https://ecommons.udayton.edu/books/1057/thumbnail.jp

The \u3cem\u3eChlamydomonas\u3c/em\u3e Genome Reveals the Evolution of Key Animal and Plant Functions

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a unicellular green alga whose lineage diverged from land plants over 1 billion years ago. It is a model system for studying chloroplast-based photosynthesis, as well as the structure, assembly, and function of eukaryotic flagella (cilia), which were inherited from the common ancestor of plants and animals, but lost in land plants. We sequenced the ∼120-megabase nuclear genome of Chlamydomonas and performed comparative phylogenomic analyses, identifying genes encoding uncharacterized proteins that are likely associated with the function and biogenesis of chloroplasts or eukaryotic flagella. Analyses of the Chlamydomonas genome advance our understanding of the ancestral eukaryotic cell, reveal previously unknown genes associated with photosynthetic and flagellar functions, and establish links between ciliopathy and the composition and function of flagella

Resume of William F. Moroney, 1981

Naval Postgraduate School Faculty Resum

Teaching Undergraduate Human Factors: The Need, Activities, and Benefits

In this article, we outline the need for and role of undergraduate human factors education, describe several activities for teaching human factors, and identify the benefits associated with offering the course. The results of a survey of psychology undergraduates (N = 111) revealed that they were unfamiliar with, yet interested in, human factors issues. A human factors course can inform students about the profession, meet their interests, and provide a variety of useful skills. We present 6 successful hands-on activities for teaching about human factors. Students reported that they enjoyed these activities and gained a greater understanding of the principles. Students also noted that the course increased their knowledge about the profession and provided new perspectives for examining systems and applying the principles

The Questionnaire as Conversation: Time for a Paradigm Shift, or at Least a Paradigm Nudge?

Questionnaires are ubiquitous. After making purchases at brick-and-mortar stores or eating at a restaurant, we are invited to complete a survey and earn extra points or a discount on our next purchase. After making purchases on the Internet, we receive a survey regarding our satisfaction with the product, or our interaction with the Web site, or the accuracy and speed of delivery of the order. Questions pop up on our browsers, and we are immediately rewarded by seeing how our responses compare with those of other respondents. Although these questionnaires vary considerably in quality, value, and scientific merit, the findings are often treated equally. In addition, the data are often collected from an opt-in, nonrandom sample of convenience, which may or may not be representative of the population of interest. In empirical studies, questionnaires and surveys are the most commonly used research tool in the areas of public opinion, psychology, sociology, and political science (Saris & Gallhofer, 2007). Their findings apply equally to the field of human factors/ ergonomics (HF/E). A cursory analysis of the number of hits on the words questionnaire and survey in the Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society between 2009 and 2014 showed that about one third of the articles contained either word. Despite HF/E’s heavy use of questionnaires and surveys, few HF/E professionals have received any formal training in their design and use. The purpose of this article is to describe the nature of questionnaires/ surveys and to encourage questionnaire designers to consider the complexity of their design task. In the interest of simplicity, we have used the terms questionnaire and survey interchangeably. In this article, we consider questionnaires as conversations and offer suggestions for improving questionnaire construction. We place an emphasis on the importance of considering the respondent’s mental model

Teaching Team Behavior To Human Factors/Ergonomics Students, Part Ii: Specifics For Forming And Developing Teams, And Using Peer Ratings

Many Human Factors/Ergonomics specialists are members of work teams. To prepare students for teamwork, the students\u27 educational experiences need to include team building exercises and experiences. As a follow-up to the 2004 HFES panel on teaching team behavior, this panel will address more specific aspects of teaching team behavior to HF/E students. In particular, the panelists will address the issues of forming teams, developing teams, and collecting and using peer ratings. The results of this and last year\u27s panel discussion will be used to develop guidelines for effectively teaching teamwork to HF/E students. These guidelines will be disseminated through the Education Technical Group