The Application of a Qualitative Model of Human-Interaction

A visual search paradigm was used to examine the effects of information automation and decision-aiding automation in a target detection and processing task. Manual, information automation, and decision-aiding automation conditions were manipulated with the size of the distractor set. Participants were required to respond to the presence or absence of a target in a time-limited trial. Reliability level (90%, 70%, 50%) of the automation was manipulated as a between subjects variable. Each reliability level group was comprised of eight volunteers for a total of 24 participants. Results indicated that the information automation cue condition engendered an increase in correct responses and a reduction in search times, regardless of set size or automation reliability. On the other hand, the presence of a decision-aiding cue differentially affected performance on all dependent measures as a function of both set size and automation reliability, alone or in concert with an information automation cue.