Noise, feedback training, and visual inspection performance

Feedback or knowledge of results which provides inspectors information on output measures (errors, times) has consistently shown to have a positive effect on inspection performance. However, when feedback training is conducted off-line in a controlled environment, the improvements attributed to training may not transfer to the criterion task in a ‘real-world’ setting. A reason for failure to transfer could be that the various environmental factors which impact inspection and which exist in real-world environments are often missing under training conditions. A primary environmental factor known to affect inspection performance is industrial noise. This study investigated the transfer effects of feedback training and practice provided under various conditions of noise on to a criterion inspection task performed under various noise conditions. Thirty-six subjects, randomly assigned to one of the six different training conditions, performed a line judgement task wherein the training conditions were manipulated between the subjects. Subsequently, results were interpreted using a model of signal detection theory.