Reversal of the Cry-Wolf Effect: An Investigation of Two Methods to Increase Alarm Response Rates
- 1 June 1995
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications
- Vol. 80 (3_suppl), 1231-1242
- https://doi.org/10.2466/pms.1995.80.3c.1231
Abstract
In complex task environments, false alarms have been associated with less frequent and slower alarm responses. This research attempted to improve alarm responses using a hearsay method, in which participants were told that false alarms would be less frequent than they actually were, and an urgency method, in which the urgency of alarms was increased. Response frequency, speed, and accuracy of three groups of 20 students (Urgency, Hearsay, and Control) were compared across groups and sessions using analyses of variance and t tests. Both methods were successful; hearsay participants increased their response rates across sessions, and urgency participants decreased their response times. The results are discussed with regard to design of alarm systems and theory of human performance.Keywords
This publication has 9 references indexed in Scilit:
- Sociotechnical communication in an underground mine fire: a study of warning messages during an emergency evacuationSafety Science, 1993
- The Development and Use of a Computerized Human Performance Test Battery for Repeated-Measures ApplicationsHuman Performance, 1992
- Likelihood Alarm DisplaysHuman Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 1988
- Development of an Automated Performance Test System for Environmental and Behavioral Toxicology StudiesPerceptual and Motor Skills, 1987
- Warning Systems in Risk ManagementRisk Analysis, 1986
- The Effect of Asymmetric Transfer and Speech Technology on Dual-Task PerformanceHuman Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 1985
- An “Alarming” situation in the intensive therapy unitIntensive Care Medicine, 1983
- Ethical principles of psychologists.American Psychologist, 1981
- RELATIVE AND ABSOLUTE STRENGTH OF RESPONSE AS A FUNCTION OF FREQUENCY OF REINFORCEMENT1,2Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 1961