Aviation Social Science: Research Methods in Practice

This book is a guide that addressees social science research issues within the aviation industry. Studies involving human factors, personality, training systems evaluation, decision-making, crew resource management and situation awareness are used to illustrate not only the process, but also the outcomes that can emerge from social science research. The book describes the principles involved in conceptualising a research problem, obtaining management support, developing an appropriate timeframe, obtaining ethics approval and collecting and managing data. It also provides useful guidelines concerning the publication of research in magazines, academic journals and conference presentations. The topics are illustrated with aviation examples and the principles are deliberately broad. This book will be a useful guide for both novice and experienced researchers, especially pilots, air traffic controllers, maintenance personnel, aviation management, aviation researchers, safety personnel and undergraduate and postgraduate university students.

Mark W. Wiggins is a senior lecturer in human factors at the University of Western Sydney, Macarthur Mark is a registered psychologist and a member of the Australian Psychological Society and the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. Catherine Stevens is an experimental cognitive psychologist. She is a lecturer in psychology at the University of Western Sydney, Macarthur, and teaches experimental and computational psychology. She is the Deputy Director of the Macarthur Auditory Research Centre, Sydney.