The Transfer of Failure-Detection Skills between Monitoring and Controlling Dynamic Systems

Eighteen subjects either controlled or monitored the system dynamics of a two-dimensional pursuit display. Detection of changes in system dynamics was faster and more accurate when subjects controlled them when they monitored. The skill acquired by controlling transferred positively to the monitoring mode, producing enhanced detection performance. There was no transfer from the monitoring mode to the controlling mode. Monitors of automatic systems who have had prior manual experience rely upon different perceptual cues in making their detection response than do those who have had no experience. The training implications of these findings are discussed.