ADVANCED METHODS FOR MODELING TEAM EFFECTS ON CONTROL-ROOM OPERATOR PERFORMANCE IN REAL-TIME

THIS RESEARCH SEEKS THE DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION OF A MODEL THAT REPRESENTS THE GROUP DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES TAKING PLACE INSIDE THE CONTROL ROOM OF A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT UNDER BOTH NORMAL AND ABNORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. COGNITIVE DECISIONS, TEAM EFFECTS, AND DYNAMIC FEATURES ARE AMONG THE MAJOR ISSUES THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED IN THE PROJECT. THE BASIC TOOL TO BE USED IS THE INFLUENCE DIAGRAM, BECAUSE IT CAN HANDLE BOTH CHANCE AND DECISION NODES AND HAS A POWERFUL GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION CAPABILITY. SINCE THE THEME OF THE PROJECT IS A FUNDAMENTAL ONE THAT PROBES INTO THE COGNITIVE DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES INVOLVED IN TASKS WHICH REQUIRE TEAM EFFORTS UNDER TIME CONSTRAINTS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PRESSURES, THE MODEL THUS DEVELOPED SHOULD CONTRIBUTE TO A BROADER UNDERSTANDING OF CONTROL-ROOM OPERATOR BEHAVIOR AT NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS.