Predicting Subjective Workload Ratings: A Comparison and Synthesis of Operational and Theoretical Models

Civil Aerospace Medical Institute2007PDFTech ReportJerry, CrutchfieldRosenberg, CraigUnited States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. Office of Aviation. Civil Aerospace Medical InstituteBoeing CompanyUnited States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. Office of Aviation. Office of Aerospace MedicineUnited States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. Office of Aviation. Civil Aerospace Medical InstituteUnited StatesAir traffic controlMathematical predictionRatingsRegression analysisSimulationVarianceWorkloadModelingDOT/FAA/AM-07/6Public DomainOutput from a computer simulation of two air traffic control (ATC) scenarios was fit to workload ratings that ATC subject-matter experts provided while observing each scenario in real time. Simulation output enabled regression analyses that tested the assumptions of a variety of workload prediction models. These included both operational models that use observable situational and behavioral variables (e.g., number of aircraft and communications by type) and theoretical models that use queuing and cognitive architecture variables (e.g., activities performed, amount of busy time, and sensory and cognitive resource usage). Results suggested the models that included number of activities performed weighted by priority accounted for the highest amount of variance in subjective workload ratings.121