LOGO A review of individual differences in field dependence as a factor in auto safety Professor: Liu Student: Ruby

Logo Objective  To review the studies, which related to driver behavior in relation to field dependence.  Suggesting several hypotheses concerning the role of field dependence in auto accidents.

Logo References  Two groups of male drivers, one is the no accidents during the period, the other is had at least three.  Field dependence drivers tended to have more accidents than field independence drivers.  The EFT scores increased when the drivers had many accidents. (Harano, 1963; 1970)

Logo References  The EFT was the only significant predictor of accident frequency among a set of variables including age, education and mileage.  The field dependence male drivers were found to have significantly more traffic accidents. (Jameson, McLellan, and Jackson, 1971)

Logo References  The result of the first study showed that the EFT scores related to accident frequency. (the male telephone company drivers: non-accident and more than 2 times accidents in past 3 years.)  The result of the second study showed that the EFT scores related to number of accidents, year of driving experience, and miles driven per year. (the male telephone company drivers in different area: non-accident and more than 2 times accidents in past 3 years.) (Williams, 1971)

Logo References Your Text here  Drivers who were non-accident and more than two accidents in past 5 years.  All of the drivers drove the car in the same distances under similar driving conditions.  The EFT and the RFT scores significantly related to accident frequency. (Mihal and Barrett, 1975)

Logo Methodological problems involved in the study of field dependence and driver behavior  Observation of driver behavior under simulated driving conditions. Under some conditions of simulation field independence participants become sickness and can not be tested effectively. The field independence people tend to become sick in the simulator device.

Logo Methodological problems involved in the study of field dependence and driver behavior  Observations of drivers while operating autos under actual driving conditions. It is possible to simulate emergency conditions without dangerous to the driver.  Classification of accidents based on a reconstruction of events. leading up to accident incidents that have actually happened. This method is important because it deals with the actual events of interest.

Logo Sensitivity to bodily cues under conditions of skid  The control of a skidding auto may be more effective on field independent drivers.  The field dependence drivers failed to learn from repeated exposure to the simulated emertgency. (on the RFT) (Olson, 1974)

Logo Sensitivity to bodily cues under conditions of skid  The performance in complex perceptual-motor tasks in regulated primarily by visual cues initially.  The kinesthetic feedback generally becomes more important as experience with the task increases. (Fleishman and Rich, 1963)

Logo Sensitivity to bodily cues under conditions of skid  The field independence participants should more easily learn to use kinesthetic feedback and more effectively learn to control their skidding cars.

Logo Overcoming embeddedness in the recognition of developing hazards  Field dependence drivers are slow in reaction time when the emergencies has been examined in an important series of simulation studies using both the EFT and RFT.  the relevant cues are camouflaged in the stimulus field. (Barrett and Thornton, 1968b; Barrett, Thornton, and Cabe, 1969)

Logo Overcoming embeddedness in the perception of road sign  The traffic signs which are embedded in a complex visual scene may go unnoticed, particularly by field dependence drivers.

Logo Overcoming embeddedness in the perception of road sign  Mihal and Barrett in 1975’s research: Used the traffic environment pictures to test the participants’ reaction time. Three stimuli were tested: Measure the subject’s capacity to disembed signs from road scenes. Measure simple reaction times Measure choice reaction times. Reaction times to the embedded signs were significantly related the field dependence. Violations and accidents which involve the failure to heed road signs may be more frequent among field dependence than among field independence drivers.

Logo Defensive driving in high speed traffic  Field independence drivers are more likely to show defensive behaviors. Tend to minimize the likelihood of involvement in “ fender-bender” accidents of this type. May be able to overcome the embedding structure and respond to the less salient, but cues down the road.

Logo Defensive driving in high speed traffic  The field dependence and field independence drivers differ in car- following behavior has been tested. Olson in 1974’s research: The closed condition had no difference in reaction time between field dependence/independence. The normal conditions had field independence drivers had shorter reaction times. -->the field independence drivers make more use of lead-car cues under the conditions.

Logo Defensive driving in high speed traffic  Field independence drivers should have high reaction constants and should be relatively safe.  The driver of the following car in the collision pair will be particularly field dependence.

Logo Summary and conclusions  Field dependence drivers: Do not quickly recognize developing hazards. Slower in responding to embedded road signs. Have difficulty in learning to control a skidding vehicle. Fail to drive defensively in high speed traffic.  suggest the different kinds of driver training may be needed for different kinds of people.

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