Date of Award
8-2002
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Psychology
Abstract
The current project was designed to explore potential strategies for reducing the risk of accidents and incidents with beginning flight students (V = 28) by: (a) evaluating the CogScreen™ Aeromedical Edition (CogScreen-AE) test as a predictor of performance, (b) investigating patterns in student performance using expanded data collection procedures, including more extensive measurement of landings, and (c) evaluating the effects of early supplemental training on a personal computer-based aviation training device (PCATD). The experimental manipulation employed a matched pairs research design and exposed a treatment group (rt = 14) to six trials of “skill pattern” practice on a PCATD, with each trial lasting approximately 25 minutes. The treatment group performed better than the control group on average on every dependent measure, however, these differences were not statistically significant. A criterion measure of student progress was regressed on five CogScreen-AE factors delineated by Taylor, O’Hara, Mumenthaler, and Yesavage (2000). Stepwise multiple regression analysis resulted in a single predictor model based on the factor Speed and Working Memory (N = 23; R = .62, adjusted R2 = .35, p = .00). The most frequent landing errors occurred for flare and follow-through after touchdown, and errors decreased as flight lessons increased (r = -.34, p = .00). The results are discussed in terms of potential learning and safety benefits for beginning flight students.
Access Setting
Dissertation-Open Access
Recommended Citation
Olson, Ryan, "An Analysis of Student Progress in Beginning Flight Training: Performance Prediction, Performance Measurement, and Performance Improvement" (2002). Dissertations. 1297.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/1297