FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-07/6

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

Report Date: March 2007

Authors: Crutchfield J, Rosenberg CS

Abstract: Output 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.

Key Words: Air Traffic Control, Modeling, Workload

No. of Pages: 14