Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) operators’ accuracy and confidence of decisions: Professional pilots or video game players?

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) operations have outpaced current training regimes resulting in a shortage of qualified UAS pilots. Three potential UAS operator groups were explored for suitability (i.e. video game players [VGP]; private pilots; professional pilots) and examined to assess levels of acc...

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Main Authors: Jacqueline M. Wheatcroft, Mike Jump, Amy L. Breckell, Jade Adams-White
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2017-12-01
Series:Cogent Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23311908.2017.1327628
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author Jacqueline M. Wheatcroft
Mike Jump
Amy L. Breckell
Jade Adams-White
author_facet Jacqueline M. Wheatcroft
Mike Jump
Amy L. Breckell
Jade Adams-White
author_sort Jacqueline M. Wheatcroft
collection DOAJ
description Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) operations have outpaced current training regimes resulting in a shortage of qualified UAS pilots. Three potential UAS operator groups were explored for suitability (i.e. video game players [VGP]; private pilots; professional pilots) and examined to assess levels of accuracy, confidence and confidence-accuracy judgements (W-S C-A) during a simulated civilian cargo flight. Sixty participants made 21 decision tasks, which varied across three levels of danger/risk. Scales of Tolerance of Ambiguity, Decision Style and NEO-PIR were also completed. Professional pilots and VGPs exhibited the highest level of decision confidence, with VGPs maintaining a constant and positive W-S C-A relationship across decision danger/risk. As decision danger/risk increased, confidence, accuracy and W-S C-A decreased. Decision danger also had a role to play in the confidence expressed when choosing to intervene or rely on automation. Neuroticism was negatively related, and conscientiousness positively related, to confidence. Intolerance of ambiguity was negatively related to W-S C-A. All groups showed higher levels of decision confidence in decisions controlled by the UAS in comparison to decisions where the operator manually intervened. VGPs display less overconfidence in decision judgements. Findings support the idea that VGPs could be considered a resource in UAS operation.
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spelling doaj.art-cc3e59610af949c1ae8efa2f32e5a9172022-12-21T19:58:11ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Psychology2331-19082017-12-014110.1080/23311908.2017.13276281327628Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) operators’ accuracy and confidence of decisions: Professional pilots or video game players?Jacqueline M. Wheatcroft0Mike Jump1Amy L. Breckell2Jade Adams-White3Eleanor Rathbone Building, University of LiverpoolUniversity of LiverpoolSchool of Psychology, University of LiverpoolEleanor Rathbone Building, University of LiverpoolUnmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) operations have outpaced current training regimes resulting in a shortage of qualified UAS pilots. Three potential UAS operator groups were explored for suitability (i.e. video game players [VGP]; private pilots; professional pilots) and examined to assess levels of accuracy, confidence and confidence-accuracy judgements (W-S C-A) during a simulated civilian cargo flight. Sixty participants made 21 decision tasks, which varied across three levels of danger/risk. Scales of Tolerance of Ambiguity, Decision Style and NEO-PIR were also completed. Professional pilots and VGPs exhibited the highest level of decision confidence, with VGPs maintaining a constant and positive W-S C-A relationship across decision danger/risk. As decision danger/risk increased, confidence, accuracy and W-S C-A decreased. Decision danger also had a role to play in the confidence expressed when choosing to intervene or rely on automation. Neuroticism was negatively related, and conscientiousness positively related, to confidence. Intolerance of ambiguity was negatively related to W-S C-A. All groups showed higher levels of decision confidence in decisions controlled by the UAS in comparison to decisions where the operator manually intervened. VGPs display less overconfidence in decision judgements. Findings support the idea that VGPs could be considered a resource in UAS operation.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23311908.2017.1327628human factorsautomationdecision-makingconfidenceaccuracy
spellingShingle Jacqueline M. Wheatcroft
Mike Jump
Amy L. Breckell
Jade Adams-White
Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) operators’ accuracy and confidence of decisions: Professional pilots or video game players?
Cogent Psychology
human factors
automation
decision-making
confidence
accuracy
title Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) operators’ accuracy and confidence of decisions: Professional pilots or video game players?
title_full Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) operators’ accuracy and confidence of decisions: Professional pilots or video game players?
title_fullStr Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) operators’ accuracy and confidence of decisions: Professional pilots or video game players?
title_full_unstemmed Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) operators’ accuracy and confidence of decisions: Professional pilots or video game players?
title_short Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) operators’ accuracy and confidence of decisions: Professional pilots or video game players?
title_sort unmanned aerial systems uas operators accuracy and confidence of decisions professional pilots or video game players
topic human factors
automation
decision-making
confidence
accuracy
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23311908.2017.1327628
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