Paradigm Development for Identifying and Validating Indicators of Trust in Automation in the Operational Environment of Human Automation Integration

Calibrated trust in an automation is a key factor supporting full integration of the human user into human automation integrated systems. True integration is a requirement if system performance is to meet expectations. Trust in automation TiA has been studied using surveys, but thus far no valid, objective indicators of TiA exist. Further, these studies have been conducted in tightly controlled laboratory environments and therefore do not necessarily translate into real world applications that might improve joint system performance. Through a literature review, constraints on an operational paradigm aimed at developing indicators of TiA were established. Our goal in this paper was to develop an operational paradigm designed to develop valid TiA indicators using methods from human factors and cognitive neuroscience. The operational environment chosen was driving automation because most adults are familiar with the task and its consequent structure and therefore required little training. Initial behavioral and survey data confirm that the design constraints were met. We therefore believe that our paradigm provides a valid means of performing operational experiments aimed at further understanding TiA and its psychophysiological underpinnings.