Experimental study on the effect of rule presentation on task performance

Although the reliability and safety level of tasks have been improved by using operation manuals, analyses of problems recently experienced in the nuclear energy industry imply that the cause of these problems is attributable to the content and presentation of operation manuals. The importance of operation manuals has also been pointed out in relation to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. Operation manuals that are effective for both normal and extreme conditions are desirable. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effect of the manner of rule presentation on human task performance under both normal and extreme conditions. A cognitive experiment using a simulation environment has been conducted. A smart grid simulator has been adopted as an example task. Two operation manuals (manuals A and B) are prepared. Manual A describes the required operations in detail. Manual B describes the meaning of the operations with their underlying knowledge. Subjects have been divided into two groups (A Group and AB Group). Subjects in the A Group can rely on manual A. On the other hand, subjects in the AB Group can rely on both manuals A and B. Results of cognitive experiments imply that, under both normal and extreme conditions, subjects in the AB group have better performance.