The general goal of this effort is to explore techniques which can be used to improve the reliability, quantification, standardization and usability of subjective rating and scaling methods for workload assessment. Phase i of the project is aimed at the development of a standard behavioral anchoring method for subjective workload scales. This method would involve the derivation of scale weighting factors or psychophysical anchoring procedures based on an operator's workload ratings of one or more standard anchor tasks. The factors would be used to adjust workload ratings of the system or task under examination in order to reduce the confounding effects " of individual differences in performance capacity and of variations in scale interpretation. The functional result of deriving and applying such a standard scheme would be enhanced reliability of subjective workload ratings, more efficient use of small numbers of test and evaluation personnel, and an unprecedented capability to compare workload levels across dissimiliar systems.
