Abstract
Analyses of eye tracking and think-aloud protocol data were performed to examine novice-expert differences in perceptual and cognitive aspects of air traffic controllers' situation awareness. In Experiment 1, three groups of field air traffic controllers (experts, intermediates, novices) were asked to perceive situations that were manipulated by complexity. In Experiment 2, protocol analysis of controllers' situation awareness was performed to extract cognitive strategies as a function of expertise. Then delayed-recall task and interviews on air traffic control plans for the recalled situations were also executed. Results showed that expert controllers concentrate only on several critical features and have their own strategies to reduce mental workloads.
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