title: Effects of extended lay-off periods on performance and operator trust under adaptable automation.
abstract: Little is known about the long-term effects of system reliability when operators do not use a system during an extended lay-off period. To examine threats to skill maintenance, 28 participants operated twice a simulation of a complex process control system for 2.5 h, with an 8-month retention interval between sessions. Operators were provided with an adaptable support system, which operated at one of the following reliability levels: 60%, 80% or 100%. Results showed that performance, workload, and trust remained stable at the second testing session, but operators lost self-confidence in their system management abilities. Finally, the effects of system reliability observed at the first testing session were largely found again at the second session. The findings overall suggest that adaptable automation may be a promising means to support operators in maintaining their performance at the second testing session.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland. Electronic address: alain.chavaillaz@unifr.ch.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chavaillaz
authors.affiliation: Division of Operations Management and Information Systems, Nottingham University Business School, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wastell
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sauer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001331:Automation; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008328:Man-Machine Systems; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D062707:Return to Work / Q000523:psychology; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D035502:Trust; D014478:Unemployment; D016526:Workload; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adaptable automation; Lay-off period; Skill retention; System reliability; Trust