Human error detection processes

Rizzo, Antonio; Bagnara, S.; Visciola, Michele

doi:10.1016/s0020-7373(87)80015-9

Cited by 68 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…In other words, the standard check is like code inspection, although it may be for only part of the spreadsheet. The standard check is important because although it is not motivated except by self-discipline, it appears to be the only way to catch complex logical errors (Allwood, 1984;Rizzo, Bagnara, & Visciola, 1986).…”

Section: Overconfidencementioning

confidence: 99%

What We Know About Spreadsheet Errors

Panko

1998

Journal of Organizational and End User Computing

298

202

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Although spreadsheet programs are used for small "scratchpad" applications, they are also used to develop many large applications. In recent years, we have learned a good deal about the errors that people make when they develop spreadsheets. In general, errors seem to occur in a few percent of all cells, meaning that for large spreadsheets, the issue is how many errors there are, not whether an error exists. These error rates, although troubling, are in line with those in programming and other human cognitive domains. In programming, we have learned to follow strict development disciplines to eliminate most errors. Surveys of spreadsheet developers indicate that spreadsheet creation, in contrast, is informal, and few organizations have comprehensive policies for spreadsheet development. Although prescriptive articles have focused on such disciplines as modularization and having assumptions sections, these may be far less important than other innovations, especially cell-by-cell code inspection after the development phase.

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Section: Overconfidencementioning

confidence: 99%

What We Know About Spreadsheet Errors

Panko

1998

Journal of Organizational and End User Computing

298

202

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“…Among the most influential of these approaches are Norman (1981) and Reason (1990). Most studies have been more limited, attempting to explain how a certain cognitive mechanism or process could lead to errors in a particular task (examples include Anderson & Jeffries, 1985;Booth, 1990;Brown & VanLehn, 1980;Brown & Gould, 1987;Cuniff, Taylor, & Black, 1989;Huguenard, Lerch, Junker, Patz, & Kass, 1997;Johnson et al, 1981;Lansdale, 1995;Lerch, Mantei, & Olson, 1989;Rizzo, Bagnara, & Visciola, 1988;Seifert & Hutchins, 1992;Smelcer, 1995;Xiao, Mackenzie, & Group, 1995;Young & Whittington, 1990).…”

Section: Errors In Rule-based Tasksmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Nature and Processing of Errors in Interactive Behavior

Gray

2000

Cognitive Science

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Understanding the nature of errors in a simple, rule-based task-programming a VCR-required analyzing the interactions among human cognition, the artifact, and the task. This analysis was guided by least-effort principles and yielded a control structure that combined a rule hierarchy task-to-device with display-based difference-reduction. A model based on this analysis was used to trace action protocols collected from participants as they programmed a simulated VCR. Trials that ended without success (the show was not correctly programmed) were interrogated to yield insights regarding problems in acquiring the control structure. For successful trials (the show was correctly programmed), steps that the model would make were categorized as matches to the model; steps that the model would not make were violations of the model. The model was able to trace the vast majority of correct keystrokes and yielded a business-as-usual account of the detection and correction of errors. Violations of the model fell into one of two fundamental categories. The model provided insights into certain subcategories of errors; whereas, regularities within other subcategories of error suggested limitations to the model. Although errors were rare when compared to the total number of correct actions, they were important. Errors were made on 4% of the keypresses that, if not detected, would have prevented two-thirds of the shows from being successfully recorded. A misprogrammed show is a minor annoyance to the user. However, devices with the approximate complexity of a VCR are ubiquitous and have found their way into emergency rooms, airplane cockpits, power plants, and so on. Errors of ignorance may be reduced by training; however, errors in the routine performance of skilled users can only be reduced by design.

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“…Further studies about errors in database queries, especially psychological aspects, are [14,13,10,6,4]. …”

Section: Figure 1 Error Statistics For Two Examsmentioning

confidence: 99%