Cognitive simulation as a tool for cognitive task analysis.
Cognitive simulations are runnable computer programs that represent models of human cognitive activities. We show how one cognitive simulation built as a model of some of the cognitive processes involved in dynamic fault management can be used in conjunction with small-scale empirical data on human performance to uncover the cognitive demands of a task, to identify where intention errors are likely to occur, and to point to improvements in the person-machine system. The simulation, called Cognitive Environment Simulation or CES, has been exercised on several nuclear power plant accident scenarios. Here we report one case to illustrate how a cognitive simulation tool such as CES can be used to clarify the cognitive demands of a problem-solving situation as part of a cognitive task analysis.
Roth
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Westinghouse Science and Technology Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15235.
Woods
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Pople
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D003071:Cognition; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D006801:Humans; D011340:Problem Solving; D012985:Software Design; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014584:User-Computer Interface