Evelyn-Rose Saus

Effects of navigation method on workload and performance in simulated high-speed ship navigation.

This study examines mental workload and performance in simulated high-speed ship navigation. Two navigation methods were compared based on an electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) and a conventional system using paper charts. Twenty naval cadets navigated in high-fidelity simulators through a 50 nautical mile course with varying levels of difficulty. Results showed that ECDIS navigation significantly improved course-keeping performance, but reduced the total amount of communication on the bridge. No differences were observed in subjective workload between groups. Heart rate variability and skin conductance measurements indicated higher workload in conventional navigation, but the differences between groups were not significant.

Who benefits from simulator training: Personality and heart rate variability in relation to situation awareness during navigation training

Objective: This study tested the relationship between individual differences and Situation Awareness (SA) during training in a navigation simulator. Background: Simulators have become an important tool in the training and education of maritime personnel with a view to improving decisions and performance. There are a few, inconclusive empirical studies that have focused on mapping personality characteristics and their link to the ability to generate and maintain SA during simulator training. Method: Thirty-six first-year students from the Royal Norwegian Navy Officer Candidate School participated in the study. SA was measured using both subjective and observer ratings. Results: The results indicated that low scores on Neuroticism and high scores on Extraversion and Conscientiousness (resilient personality type) predicted both subjective and observer-rated SA. Furthermore, participants with high SA were able to modulate their Heart Rate Variability (HRV), with suppression of HRV during navigation training as well showing recovery of HRV. Application: The potential applications of this research include the assessment of personality differences as a tool in selecting navigators, and the use of HRV as an objective index of adaptability to environmental demands.

The relationship between dimensions of personality and situational awareness in a navigation simulator

The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between personality and situational awareness (SA). 34 first year students from The Royal Norwegian Navy Officer Candidate School participated in this study. SA was measured during training in the navigation simulator at the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy. Both subjective and observer ratings of SA was measured using the Situational Awareness Rating Scale (SARS). Personality was measured using The NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R). The results indicated that neuroticism was negatively related to both subjective and observer SA. Extroversion and conscientiousness were positively related to subjective SA. Regression analyses showed that the dimension of conscientiousness with the facet competence could predict subjective SA, and the dimension of neuroticism predicted observer ratings of SA.