This is the fourth of a series of articles which will look at Command Judgement and Decision Making. (Part 3 – Sense Filters) is here.
Each part needs to be read in the sequential order presented, as this is the way I believe you mentally go about using your Judgement to make a decision. There is no point in reading Part 5 before Part 4
Perception
We receive vast amounts of information via our senses and a large portion of this information is physiologically filtered so that we can digest, process and make sense of that information and not be over-whelmed once it gets to our brain.
(Click on the image for a bigger view).
That’s the physiological filtering process. Once that relatively “raw data” (reality) gets to our brain it goes through another cognitive filtering process of perception. This perception is very important in this discussion on Judgement and Decision Making as in this step of the Judgement model the potential for errors is greatly increased. This “perception filtered”, modified information is your unique, individual “perceived reality” and this is what you use to make sense of the world and what is happening to you. This perceived reality is what you use in your Judgement and Decision Making process.
Definitions
While there are many different definitions of Reality and Perception, for the purposes of this discussion we’ll simplify both of them to suit our aviation environment.
Reality
Reality is what is really, actually happening.
You determine reality by sensing the “raw data” that is detected by your human sense organs. We will consider that the incoming raw data is identical for everyone (this is not strictly true as the raw data gets filtered slightly by each individual’s physiological sense filters and so the data that eventually ends up being sensed is slightly different for each person).
Perceived Reality
Your individual perceived reality is what you “think” is happening.
You determine your individual perceived reality by sensing the raw data and then “interpreting” this raw data. This perceived reality may be correct or incorrect depending on your interpretation. This is your understanding of “reality” and this is what is “real” and unique for you.
Most of the time one person’s perceived reality will be very similar (sometimes almost identical) to another person’s who is receiving that same raw data – but not always.
Perceived Reality is your unique, individual understanding of what is happening to you in the world.
Filling In The “Blanks”
One of the reasons for the difference between reality and perceived reality is that a major function of your human sensory system is to reduce and order the vast amount of data that your sense organs receive (physiological filter) so that you can process this information, “understand” it and react accordingly.
Sometimes this raw data is not understood correctly or doesn’t make sense (in your own mind). There are often “blank” areas in the information and you tend to try and “fill in the blanks”. The blanks are filled with what you “think” (correctly or incorrectly) is required so that your perceived reality agrees with how you “think” the world should be. There is often a discrepancy between what you perceive to be true (your perceived reality) and actual reality.
This discrepancy and the filling in of the blanks is potentially (and usually) where a major number of errors can be introduced into the Judgement and Decision Making system.
These blanks are filled in based on your previous experience, expectancy, assumption and bias. Your individual perception is heavily influenced by mood, emotions, personality, mental state (e.g. rested or fatigued), beliefs, values, culture (both organizational and national), knowledge, preparation, morals, social norms, “facts” (as you understand them), attitude and motivation.
Most of your created perceived reality occurs unconsciously, without thought. However, if you recognize that you are doing this, you can consciously alter your thought pattern and possibly introduce more “rational” and “logical” thinking. This is probably the first step in the Judgement and Decision Making model that you can pause and confirm if your expectations, assumptions and/or thought processes are “correct” and “agree” with reality (as you understand it).
These individual influences are why two people who receive identical raw data each reach different conclusions, act on that information differently or come up with dissimilar decisions. Their perceived reality is different even though the received raw data was identical.
Sensory Illusions
Most of the senses we have looked at in previous chapters are also subject to certain illusions (or an erroneous perception of reality). Our human senses have evolved and adapted to an earth-based frame of reference and they can be very dangerous if we rely exclusively upon then in our 3 dimensional, multi “G” aviation environment.
You’re probably familiar with most of the common aviation sensory illusions. If not have a look at Sensory Illusions In Aviation for a more comprehensive description.
If you rely upon these false illusions detected by your sensors then you will ultimately reach or formulate false or incorrect decisions based on those false perceptions of reality (garbage in – garbage out).
Individual “Reality”
This perception filter and trying to make the world fit in to your way of thinking (your perceived reality) is why two pilots sitting side by side, receiving the exact same raw data from the PFD, ND, instruments, radios, inter-personal interaction etc. can sometimes perceive two very different situations. The same raw data (reality) is received but different perceived realities are individually experienced.
One pilot may perceive that you are high on descent profile and the other low. One safe and the other dangerous, good/bad, Go/No Go, fast/slow, early/late, acceptable/unacceptable.
Your training in your particular Airline and your Airline’s SOPs or NPs go a long way to keep the crew’s perceived reality as similar as possible. That’s one of the main functions of our very standardized professional lives – to minimize misconceptions and misunderstandings and have very similar perceived realities between crew. The same raw data means the same thing to each of us and so our perceived realities are usually extremely similar.
Summary
Judgement and Decision Making is driven entirely by your perceived reality NOT actual reality.
We tend to fill in the blanks to compensate for missing information after our sense organs relay the raw data to our brain. This difference in perceived reality is why two different pilots will come up with two different answers or a dissimilar decision when faced with exactly the same raw data. This perceptual filter is where potential errors are often introduced.
As we shall see later Judgement is fuelled by perceived risk and NOT real risk. But more on risk after looking at the next chapter – Recognition.
Judgement and Decision Making (Part 5 – Recognition).
This is only MY attempt at analysing Judgement and Decision Making – I’m just a professional aviator, not a psychologist so my thoughts may not conform with academia, but it is based on a real pilot’s perspective. What would you rather have; a psychologist explaining aviation or an aviator explaining psychology?
I welcome any feedback about this article. Please add YOUR pilot input (or if any psychologists read this, your thoughts) by using the COMMENTS link below.
Each part needs to be read in the sequential order presented, as this is the way I believe you mentally go about using your Judgement to make a decision. There is no point in reading Part 5 before Part 4
We receive vast amounts of information via our senses and a large portion of this information is physiologically filtered so that we can digest, process and make sense of that information and not be over-whelmed once it gets to our brain.
(Click on the image for a bigger view).That’s the physiological filtering process. Once that relatively “raw data” (reality) gets to our brain it goes through another cognitive filtering process of perception. This perception is very important in this discussion on Judgement and Decision Making as in this step of the Judgement model the potential for errors is greatly increased. This “perception filtered”, modified information is your unique, individual “perceived reality” and this is what you use to make sense of the world and what is happening to you. This perceived reality is what you use in your Judgement and Decision Making process.
Definitions
While there are many different definitions of Reality and Perception, for the purposes of this discussion we’ll simplify both of them to suit our aviation environment.
Reality
Reality is what is really, actually happening.
You determine reality by sensing the “raw data” that is detected by your human sense organs. We will consider that the incoming raw data is identical for everyone (this is not strictly true as the raw data gets filtered slightly by each individual’s physiological sense filters and so the data that eventually ends up being sensed is slightly different for each person).
Perceived Reality
Your individual perceived reality is what you “think” is happening.
You determine your individual perceived reality by sensing the raw data and then “interpreting” this raw data. This perceived reality may be correct or incorrect depending on your interpretation. This is your understanding of “reality” and this is what is “real” and unique for you.
Most of the time one person’s perceived reality will be very similar (sometimes almost identical) to another person’s who is receiving that same raw data – but not always.
Perceived Reality is your unique, individual understanding of what is happening to you in the world.
Filling In The “Blanks”
One of the reasons for the difference between reality and perceived reality is that a major function of your human sensory system is to reduce and order the vast amount of data that your sense organs receive (physiological filter) so that you can process this information, “understand” it and react accordingly.
Sometimes this raw data is not understood correctly or doesn’t make sense (in your own mind). There are often “blank” areas in the information and you tend to try and “fill in the blanks”. The blanks are filled with what you “think” (correctly or incorrectly) is required so that your perceived reality agrees with how you “think” the world should be. There is often a discrepancy between what you perceive to be true (your perceived reality) and actual reality.
This discrepancy and the filling in of the blanks is potentially (and usually) where a major number of errors can be introduced into the Judgement and Decision Making system.
These blanks are filled in based on your previous experience, expectancy, assumption and bias. Your individual perception is heavily influenced by mood, emotions, personality, mental state (e.g. rested or fatigued), beliefs, values, culture (both organizational and national), knowledge, preparation, morals, social norms, “facts” (as you understand them), attitude and motivation.
Most of your created perceived reality occurs unconsciously, without thought. However, if you recognize that you are doing this, you can consciously alter your thought pattern and possibly introduce more “rational” and “logical” thinking. This is probably the first step in the Judgement and Decision Making model that you can pause and confirm if your expectations, assumptions and/or thought processes are “correct” and “agree” with reality (as you understand it).
These individual influences are why two people who receive identical raw data each reach different conclusions, act on that information differently or come up with dissimilar decisions. Their perceived reality is different even though the received raw data was identical.
Sensory Illusions
Most of the senses we have looked at in previous chapters are also subject to certain illusions (or an erroneous perception of reality). Our human senses have evolved and adapted to an earth-based frame of reference and they can be very dangerous if we rely exclusively upon then in our 3 dimensional, multi “G” aviation environment.
You’re probably familiar with most of the common aviation sensory illusions. If not have a look at Sensory Illusions In Aviation for a more comprehensive description.
If you rely upon these false illusions detected by your sensors then you will ultimately reach or formulate false or incorrect decisions based on those false perceptions of reality (garbage in – garbage out).
Individual “Reality”
This perception filter and trying to make the world fit in to your way of thinking (your perceived reality) is why two pilots sitting side by side, receiving the exact same raw data from the PFD, ND, instruments, radios, inter-personal interaction etc. can sometimes perceive two very different situations. The same raw data (reality) is received but different perceived realities are individually experienced.
One pilot may perceive that you are high on descent profile and the other low. One safe and the other dangerous, good/bad, Go/No Go, fast/slow, early/late, acceptable/unacceptable.
Your training in your particular Airline and your Airline’s SOPs or NPs go a long way to keep the crew’s perceived reality as similar as possible. That’s one of the main functions of our very standardized professional lives – to minimize misconceptions and misunderstandings and have very similar perceived realities between crew. The same raw data means the same thing to each of us and so our perceived realities are usually extremely similar.
Summary
We tend to fill in the blanks to compensate for missing information after our sense organs relay the raw data to our brain. This difference in perceived reality is why two different pilots will come up with two different answers or a dissimilar decision when faced with exactly the same raw data. This perceptual filter is where potential errors are often introduced.
As we shall see later Judgement is fuelled by perceived risk and NOT real risk. But more on risk after looking at the next chapter – Recognition.
Judgement and Decision Making (Part 5 – Recognition).
This is only MY attempt at analysing Judgement and Decision Making – I’m just a professional aviator, not a psychologist so my thoughts may not conform with academia, but it is based on a real pilot’s perspective. What would you rather have; a psychologist explaining aviation or an aviator explaining psychology?
I welcome any feedback about this article. Please add YOUR pilot input (or if any psychologists read this, your thoughts) by using the COMMENTS link below.
0 comments:
Post a Comment