Cognitive Biases in Risk Communication during Post-Flight Debrief

ABSTRACT

Objective

This paper aims to identify cognitive biases in risk communication among pilots during flight debrief. We evaluate the effect of framing language, representation format, and parameter type measured on how pilots interpret flight information.

Background

Advancements in technology have created an opportunity for a data-centric approach to flight instruction. The understanding of virtual debrief formats, consisting of visualizations of flight data, relies on the pilot perceiving the information displayed accurately. Cognitive biases may impact how pilots perceive the information and therefore affect how they react to it in future flights.

Method

We used flight data to design ways to communicate the information and developed a display prototype for the user. We asked pilots to evaluate eight different representations through a scenario-based survey. Pilots reviewed a flight and rated how risky they thought it was and the likelihood of their debrief resulting in any behavioral changes in upcoming flights.

Results

Most significantly, the graphical representation format caused pilots to report a lower risk for the same flight, compared to the numerical representation format.

Conclusion

The analysis of the survey has shown that debrief representation affects risk perception, but not necessarily willingness to change unsafe behaviors. Respondents were highly motivated to change unsafe behaviors, independent of how the information was presented to them. Future work should develop specific guidelines to be followed when designing debrief products.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. A debrief prototype tool for one of the flight scenarios is available at https://nicolettafala.com/riskdebriefprototype/.

Additional information

Funding

This research was partially funded by the US Department of Transportation/Federal Aviation Administration PEGASAS Center of Excellence under Award No 12-C-GA-PU AM44, 55. The project was managed by Michael Vu. The views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the FAA. The information in this research does not constitute FAA Flight Standards or FAA Aircraft Certification policy.