Human Factors

The aim of this research is to develop an alternative, sociologically based approach, largely drawn from Erving Goffman's (1974) Frame Analysis, and assess whether it can be used to effectively describe, analyse and discuss SA. This work establishes that Goffman's (1974) frame analysis theoretically supports the major underlying concepts of the SA construct. SA is shown to be a meaningful and observable social phenomenon. Additionally, a method derived from frame analysis is used to examine and analyse the observed intersubjective SA processes.

Commercial Aviation in Australia has an enviable safety record, however, the General Aviation (GA) industry’s record is less impressive. Commercial pilots in Australia will by-and-large be trained in the GA industry, it is a critical link in the training of pilots, influencing them in the formative period of their careers. This research investigates the attitudes and behaviour of pilots in this stage of their career to determine whether or not the attitudes and behaviours of pilots at this stage of their career are inappropriate or if there are any unexpected attitudes prevalent.

Various medical error taxonomies have been proposed in the literature. It is possible that because different medical error taxonomies utilise different categories, such taxonomies classify different information. This thesis reviewed published medical error taxonomies using a human factors perspective. It was found that two-thirds of the taxonomies classified systemic factors and only a third utilised theoretical error concepts.