Using the Subjective Workload Dominance (SWORD) Technique for Projective Workload Assessment

Abstract

The present study examined the utility of the Subjective Workload Dominance (SWORD) technique as a projective workload tool. Two groups predicted the workload associated with using six possible head-up display (HUD) formats. One group contained college students inexperienced with HUDs, and the second group contained operational F-16 pilots who commonly used HUD displays but were familiar with only one format. The projective ratings from these groups were correlated with retrospective ratings from a group of operational F-16 pilots that had experienced all six formats in a simulator study. The correlation between the projective and retrospective groups of pilots was highly positive, and both groups′ ratings correlated positively with the simulator study performance. In contrast, the student ratings were not significantly correlated with the ratings from either of the other groups, nor was performance. The results support the utility of the SWORD technique as a projective tool, provided a group of subject matter experts is available to make the required judgments.