The Measurement of Tracking Proficiency

The problem of measuring tracking proficiency is reviewed and analyzed. The five classes of measurements discussed are: (1) single-axis error amplitude scores; (2) multi-axis error amplitude scores; (3) simple frequency scores; control effort; (4) special engineering measurement techniques; (5) adaptive tracking measurements. The most widely used score in psychological investigations, time on target, is shown not to be an interval measurement of tracking error amplitude and, in addition, is shown to be unreliable. Seventeen equations for the measurement of tracking skill are described. Adaptive tracking measurement techniques are shown to be more effective than are techniques employing fixed-difficulty tasks.