Since the work of Fitts and his colleagues, researchers have been using eye-movement data to evaluate various aspects of pilot instrument scanning behavior. Although Senders' work indicated that link values and transitional probabilities could be accurately predicted using a random sampling process, several investigators have recently suggested that pilot scanning behavior was deterministic. However, there has been no clear empirical evidence to support a deterministic hypothesis. The present research presents a new flexible model of pilot instrument scanning behavior which assumes that the pilot uses a set of deterministic scanning patterns on (1) the pilot's perception of error in the state of the aircraft, and (2) the pilot's knowledge of the interactive nature of the aircraft's systems. Statistical analyses revealed that a three-stage Markov process composed of the pilot's three predicted lookpoints, occurring 1/30, 2/30, and 3/30 of a second prior to each LP, accurately modelled the scanning behavior of 14 commercial airline pilots while flying steep turn maneuvers in a Boeing 737 flight simulator. Furthermore, the modelled scanning data for each pilot were not statistically different from the observed scanning data in comparisons of mean dwell time, entropy, and entropy rate. These findings represent the first direct evidence that pilots are using deterministic scanning patterns during instrument flight. The results are interpreted as direct support for the error-dependent model and suggestions are made for further research that could allow for identification of the specific scanning patterns suggested by the model.
","abstract_html":"<p>Since the work of Fitts and his colleagues, researchers have been using eye-movement data to evaluate various aspects of pilot instrument scanning behavior. Although Senders' work indicated that link values and transitional probabilities could be accurately predicted using a random sampling process, several investigators have recently suggested that pilot scanning behavior was deterministic. However, there has been no clear empirical evidence to support a deterministic hypothesis. The present research presents a new flexible model of pilot instrument scanning behavior which assumes that the pilot uses a set of deterministic scanning patterns on (1) the pilot's perception of error in the state of the aircraft, and (2) the pilot's knowledge of the interactive nature of the aircraft's systems. Statistical analyses revealed that a three-stage Markov process composed of the pilot's three predicted lookpoints, occurring 1/30, 2/30, and 3/30 of a second prior to each LP, accurately modelled the scanning behavior of 14 commercial airline pilots while flying steep turn maneuvers in a Boeing 737 flight simulator. Furthermore, the modelled scanning data for each pilot were not statistically different from the observed scanning data in comparisons of mean dwell time, entropy, and entropy rate. These findings represent the first direct evidence that pilots are using deterministic scanning patterns during instrument flight. The results are interpreted as direct support for the error-dependent model and suggestions are made for further research that could allow for identification of the specific scanning patterns suggested by the model.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Jones, Dennis H."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)","degree_level":"Dissertation","degree_discipline":"Psychology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Glynn D. Coates","Randall L. Harris","Fred Freeman","Raymond H. Kirby"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":1983,"date_issued":"1983-04-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"1983-04-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:35:23Z","subjects":["Eye movement","Aviation psychology","Instrument flying","Human Factors Psychology","Industrial and Organizational Psychology"],"languages":[],"rights":["In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
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"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["An Error-Dependent Model of Instrument-Scanning Behavior in Commercial Airline Pilots"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Glynn D. Coates","Randall L. Harris","Fred Freeman","Raymond H. Kirby"],"dc:creator":["Jones, Dennis H."],"dc:date.available":["2019-10-04T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Since the work of Fitts and his colleagues, researchers have been using eye-movement data to evaluate various aspects of pilot instrument scanning behavior. Although Senders' work indicated that link values and transitional probabilities could be accurately predicted using a random sampling process, several investigators have recently suggested that pilot scanning behavior was deterministic. However, there has been no clear empirical evidence to support a deterministic hypothesis. The present research presents a new flexible model of pilot instrument scanning behavior which assumes that the pilot uses a set of deterministic scanning patterns on (1) the pilot's perception of error in the state of the aircraft, and (2) the pilot's knowledge of the interactive nature of the aircraft's systems. Statistical analyses revealed that a three-stage Markov process composed of the pilot's three predicted lookpoints, occurring 1/30, 2/30, and 3/30 of a second prior to each LP, accurately modelled the scanning behavior of 14 commercial airline pilots while flying steep turn maneuvers in a Boeing 737 flight simulator. Furthermore, the modelled scanning data for each pilot were not statistically different from the observed scanning data in comparisons of mean dwell time, entropy, and entropy rate. These findings represent the first direct evidence that pilots are using deterministic scanning patterns during instrument flight. The results are interpreted as direct support for the error-dependent model and suggestions are made for further research that could allow for identification of the specific scanning patterns suggested by the model.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/psychology_etds/289"],"dc:rights":["In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
"],"dc:subject":["Eye movement","Aviation psychology","Instrument flying","Human Factors Psychology","Industrial and Organizational Psychology"],"dc:title":["An Error-Dependent Model of Instrument-Scanning Behavior in Commercial Airline Pilots"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Psychology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:35:23Z"}