Assignment: 2000 words written essay (not including title page and reference list at end)
Objective: Decision-making has been defined as “the process of reaching a judgment or choosing an option, sometimes called a course of action, to meet the needs of a given situation” (Flin, O’Connor & Crichton, 2008, p. 41). It has also been stated that “in most operational work settings, there is a continuous cycle of monitoring and re-evaluation of the task environment, then taking appropriate actions” (Flin et al, 2008, p. 41). However, when individuals are new to particular scenarios, the process of evaluation becomes problematic as they have little prior experience to work with. This appears to be relevant in aviation, where numerous fatal accidents in bad weather have occurred by poor decision-making by pilots.
For this essay, provide a critical review of how a pilot could improve their own decisionmaking during their pilot career. YOU MUST review at least ONE accident/report in general aviation related to poor weather to demonstrate your understanding of the decision-making processes. The essay should include:
1. Definition of decision-making. 2. The different forms of decision-making (e.g. intuitive/recognition-primed, rule-based, choice, creative) a. Provide pilot related examples of each form of decision making method. b. What are the strengths and limitations of these forms of decision-making methods? 3. Investigation of a general aviation accident/incident in the Tasman region that was related to poor weather. Review this accident and determine and explain possible decision-making issues. 4. Possible training solutions for the accident/incident above that could be used by new pilots to reduce the likelihood of such an event based on evidence found in reviewed literature. 5. Summary and conclusion.
Important information: Essay format: o Font 12, Times New Roman. o Double line spacing with a 25mm blank border. Title page will include: o Essay title o Name and student number o Course code o Word count All referencing must adhere to APA 6th style (cf. Publication manual of the American Psychological Association, 2010). Incorrect format will be sent back to students to edit and resubmit before marking continues. Essays are to comply with word limit. 200 words leniency is granted to account for in-text references and images/tables. Word limit exceeding plus or minus 100 words will have 10% deducted off final marks for each 200 words and part thereof. (e.g. An assignment that is 2250 is 50 words outside prescribed limit of plus or minus 100 words. Final mark reduced by 10% of 100 = -10 marks). All essays to be uploaded utilising 'Turnitin' on Learning@griffith. o Evidence of plagiarism will result in immediate Fail.
Marking Criteria: Marking criteria will be uploaded on Blackboard.
References
American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the american
psychological association (6th ed.). Washington, D.C: American Psychological
Association.
Flin, R. H., O'Connor, P., & Crichton, M., Dr. (2008). Safety at the sharp end: A guide to
non-technical skills. Aldershot, England: Ashgate.
Suggested Reading list/ reference material
Croskerry, P., Singhal, G., & Mamede, S. (2013). Cognitive debiasing 1: origins of bias and
theory of debiasing. BMJ Quality & Safety, 22(2), 58–64. Retrieved from
http://doi.org/10.1136/bmjqs-2012-001712
Croskerry, P., Singhal, G., & Mamede, S. (2013). Cognitive debiasing 2: impediments to and
strategies for change. BMJ Quality & Safety, 22(2), 65–72. Retrieved from
http://doi.org/10.1136/bmjqs-2012-001713
Flin, R. H., O'Connor, P., & Crichton, M. (2008). Safety at the sharp end: A guide to non
technical skills. Aldershot, England: Ashgate.
Gigerenzer, G. & Gaissmaier, W. (2011). Heuristic decision making. Annual Review of
Psychology, 62, 451-482. doi: 10.1146/annurev-psych-120709-145346
Jones, N., Ross, H., Lynam, T., Perez, P., & Leitch, A. (2011). Mental models: an
interdisciplinary synthesis of theory and methods. Ecology and Society, 16(1).
doi:10.5751/ES-03802-160146
Lipshitz, R., & Strauss, O. (1997). Coping with uncertainty: A naturalistic decision-making
analysis. Organizational behavior and human decision processes, 69(2), 149-163.
doi:10.1006/obhd.1997.2679
Maurino, D. E., Reason, J., Johnston, N., & Lee, R.B. (1995). Beyond aviation human
factors: Safety in high technology systems. Brookfield, USA: Avebury Aviation.
Noyes, J., Masakowski, Y., & Cook, M. (2012). Decision making in complex environments.
Abingdon, GB: Ashgate.
Sims, C. R., Neth, H., Jacobs, R. A., & Gray, W. D. (2013). Melioration as rational
choice: Sequential decision making in uncertain environments. Psychological
review, 120(1), 139. doi: 10.1037/a0030850
Walmsley, S., & Gilbey, A. (2016). Cognitive biases in visual pilots' weather-related decision
making: Weather related decision making in general aviation. Applied Cognitive
Psychology, 30(4), 532-543. doi:10.1002/acp.3225