Mary T. Dzindolet

The role of trust in automation reliance

A recent and dramatic increase in the use of automation has not yielded comparable improvements in performance. Researchers have found human operators often underutilize (disuse) and overly rely on (misuse) automated aids (Parasuraman and Riley, 1997). Three studies were performed with Cameron University students to explore the relationship among automation reliability, trust, and reliance. With the assistance of an automated decision aid, participants viewed slides of Fort Sill terrain and indicated the presence or absence of a camouflaged soldier. Results from the three studies indicate that trust is an important factor in understanding automation reliance decisions. Participants initially considered the automated decision aid trustworthy and reliable. After observing the automated aid make errors, participants distrusted even reliable aids, unless an explanation was provided regarding why the aid might err. Knowing why the aid might err increased trust in the decision aid and increased automation reliance, even when the trust was unwarranted. Our studies suggest a need for future research focused on understanding automation use, examining individual differences in automation reliance, and developing valid and reliable self-report measures of trust in automation.

Social Influence Processes in Group Brainstorming

A series of studies examined the role of social influence processes in group brainstorming. Two studies with pairs and 1 with groups of 4 revealed that the performance of participants in interactive groups is more similar than the performance of those in nominal groups. A 4th study demonstrated that performance levels in an initial group session predicted performance on a different problem 2 sessions later. In a 5th study it was found that the productivity gap between an interactive and nominal group could be eliminated by giving interactive group members a performance standard comparable with the typical performance of nominal groups

Perception of Performance in Group Brainstorming: The Illusion of Group Productivity

Research has shown that individuals produce fewer ideas in interactive brainstorming groups than when brainstorming alone. However, group brainstorming remains a popular technique in organizations and industry. One basis for this popularity may be the perceived productivity of group brainstorming. A survey of expected performance in group brainstorming revealed that most individuals believed they would generate more ideas in groups than alone. Individuals who, in a second experiment, actually performed in brainstorming groups also perceived their performance more favorably than individuals who brainstormed alone. The results of a third experiment indicate that the illusion of group productivity may derive in part from the opportunity for social comparison that is available in group brainstorming. It also appears that individuals tend to take credit for a disproportionate amount of the brainstorming activity in groups.

Predicting Misuse and Disuse of Combat Identification Systems

Two combat identification systems have been designed to reduce fratricide by providing soldiers with the ability to “interrogate” a potential target by sending a microwave or laser signal that, if returned, identifies the target as a “friend.” Ideally, gunners will appropriately rely on these automated aids, which will reduce fratricide rates. However, past research has found that human operators underutilize (disuse) and overly rely on (misuse) automated systems (cf. Parasuraman & Riley, 1997). The purpose of this laboratory study was to simultaneously examine misuse and disuse of an automated decision-making aid at varying levels of reliability. With or without the aid of an automated system that is correct about 90%, 75%, or 60% of the time, 91 college students viewed 226 slides of Fort Sill terrain and indicated the presence or absence of camouflaged soldiers. Regardless of the reliability of the automated aid, misuse was more prevalent than disuse, F(1, 65) = 31.43, p < .01; p = .27 for misuse, p = .13 for disuse. Results are interpreted within a general framework of automation use (Dzindolet, Beck, Pierce, & Dawe, 2001).

Social and Cognitive Influences in Group Brainstorming: Predicting Production Gains and Losses

The creation of novel ideas often takes place in social contexts. Past research on brainstorming and other types of group tasks have shown that groups often perform poorly in comparison to conditions in which tasks are done individually. Past reviews have evaluated various factors that may be responsible for the production losses in group brainstorming (Diehl & Stroebe, 1987; Mullen, Johnson, & Salas, 1991; Stroebe & Diehl, 1994). We re-evaluate these factors in light of subsequent research in our laboratory and demonstrate conditions under which groups can perform quite well in comparison to similar groups of individuals (nominal groups). We present a comprehensive model for predicting production gains and losses. Research on cognitive and social factors that may enhance brainstorming in groups is summarized.

Social influence, creativity and innovation

We review research on the social influences on creativity. The main focus is on recent research on group and team creativity and the implications of this research for organizational creativity. We propose a broad model of the role of the cognitive, motivational, and social processes involved in creativity and innovation. Using this model as a framework, we highlight the influence of diversity, conflict, emotionally supportive environments, and social comparison processes on group creativity. Future directions for research on group creativity are suggested.

Reactions of male and female inmates to prison confinement: further evidence for a two-component model

The goal of the study was to address the limitations of previous studies on the TwoComponent Model of inmates’ reaction to prison confinement, and present the analysis of the impact of confinement on both male and female inmates in a federal co-correctional facility. The Two-Component Model proposes that the effects of prison confinement differ in response to two different types of prison conditions: (1) those that remain constant, and (2) those that vary over time. Violence, loss of freedom, limited facilities and competition for limited resources, among others, represent some of the constant conditions. Gradual increase in familiarity with procedures, norms and staff, among others, represent the changing conditions. Based on findings of previous studies, the authors hypothesized that: 1) Reactions to the prison environment would not change or become more negative over time. 2) Health and emotional outcomes would improve over time. 3) Self-reported social support within and outside the prison would decrease over time, and 4) No change would occur over time in coping behavior and tolerance for prison conditions.

Automation usage decisions: controlling intent and appraisal errors in a target detection task

Background: It was proposed that misuse and disuse often occur because operators (a) cannot determine if automation or a nonautomated alternative maximizes the likelihood of task success (appraisal errors) or (b) know the utilities of the options but disregard this information when deciding to use automation (intent errors). Objective: This investigation assessed the effectiveness of performance feedback, a procedure developed to attenuate appraisal errors, and scenario training, an intervention designed to decrease intent errors. Methods: Operators given feedback were told how many errors they and an automated device made on a target detection task. Scenario training took operators through the thought processes of optimal decision makers after the utilities of the automated and nonautomated alternatives had been determined. Following 200 training trials, participants chose between relying on their observations or an automated device. Results: There was little misuse, but disuse rates were high (84%) among operators receiving neither feedback nor scenario training. Operators paired with a more accurate machine and given feedback made approximately twice as many errors as the automated device. Nevertheless, intent errors were commonplace; 55% of the operators who received feedback without scenario training did not rely on automation. Feedback effectiveness was enhanced when used in conjunction with scenario training; the disuse rate decreased to 29%. Conclusion: A combination of feedback and scenario training was more effective in mitigating disuse than either intervention used in isolation. Application: An important application of these findings is that operator training programs should incorporate techniques to control intent and appraisal errors.

Misuse and Disuse of Automated AIDS

A general model of automation use, which proposes that cognitive, social, and motivational processes may lead to productivity loss of human-computer teams is briefly described and data from four experiments testing aspects of the model are presented. Automation use is determined, in part, by the perceived utility of the aid, which is the outcome of a comparison process between the human operators ability and the reliability of the aid. Perceived utility, however, is affected by a bias towards automation and by self-serving biases.

Collaborative Creativity—Group Creativity and Team Innovation

Publisher Summary It is apparent that a broad range of factors can increase innovation in teams. It appears that with the right people, the right supporting, motivational and task contexts, and effective social and cognitive processes, teams can be highly innovative. This outcome is probably not surprising and to some extent states the obvious. Such excellence may not be inevitable in teams, since this configuration adds a level of complexity. Team members have to coordinate effectively, efficiently and adequately share and combine their relevant knowledge, select the best ideas, and effectively implement them. It may take considerable training and experience for teams to excel at team creativity. There is a need for studies that provide objective measures of processes and outcomes in real world settings with appropriate comparison groups. Laboratory studies of creativity in short-term groups suggest that groups will often under perform and will exceed non-interactive baselines only under conditions that are optimal for group idea exchange. However, the fact that laboratory studies have been able to find synergy with ad-hoc groups in short-term settings suggests that teams which involve members suited for teamwork, who have worked together for some time and have the diverse perspectives needed for a problem, should also be able to achieve synergistic outcomes under the right conditions.