Individual Differences in Technical Troubleshooting

Drew H. Gitomer

doi:10.1207/s15327043hup0102_3

Individual Differences in Technical Troubleshooting

Drew H. Gitomer

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

The analysis of individual differences in component skills is used in examining the characteristics of more and less successful troubleshooters of electronics equipment. In one study, mental models of devices are explored. Skilled individuals’ models are much more aligned with a true functional description of the device. Less-skilled individuals exhibit several consistent deficits in their models. In the remaining two studies, skill in executing a simple troubleshooting procedure is examined. Skilled troubleshooters were not only more successful, but results suggested that their errors were computational in nature, whereas less-skilled troubleshooters evidenced conceptual deficits as well. The findings are discussed in terms of new conceptualizations of testing and training complex skill.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	111-131
Number of pages	21
Journal	Human Performance
Volume	1
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327043hup0102_3
State	Published - Jun 1988
Externally published	Yes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Applied Psychology
Psychology(all)
Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management

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10.1207/s15327043hup0102_3

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title = "Individual Differences in Technical Troubleshooting",

abstract = "The analysis of individual differences in component skills is used in examining the characteristics of more and less successful troubleshooters of electronics equipment. In one study, mental models of devices are explored. Skilled individuals{\textquoteright} models are much more aligned with a true functional description of the device. Less-skilled individuals exhibit several consistent deficits in their models. In the remaining two studies, skill in executing a simple troubleshooting procedure is examined. Skilled troubleshooters were not only more successful, but results suggested that their errors were computational in nature, whereas less-skilled troubleshooters evidenced conceptual deficits as well. The findings are discussed in terms of new conceptualizations of testing and training complex skill.",

author = "Gitomer, {Drew H.}",

note = "Funding Information: The work reported in this article was conducted for the Air Force Human Resources Laboratory under a contract to the Learning Research and Development Center (Contract No. F41689-83-C-0029). Educational Testing Service also supported the preparation of this article.",

year = "1988",

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AU - Gitomer, Drew H.

N1 - Funding Information: The work reported in this article was conducted for the Air Force Human Resources Laboratory under a contract to the Learning Research and Development Center (Contract No. F41689-83-C-0029). Educational Testing Service also supported the preparation of this article.

PY - 1988/6

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N2 - The analysis of individual differences in component skills is used in examining the characteristics of more and less successful troubleshooters of electronics equipment. In one study, mental models of devices are explored. Skilled individuals’ models are much more aligned with a true functional description of the device. Less-skilled individuals exhibit several consistent deficits in their models. In the remaining two studies, skill in executing a simple troubleshooting procedure is examined. Skilled troubleshooters were not only more successful, but results suggested that their errors were computational in nature, whereas less-skilled troubleshooters evidenced conceptual deficits as well. The findings are discussed in terms of new conceptualizations of testing and training complex skill.

AB - The analysis of individual differences in component skills is used in examining the characteristics of more and less successful troubleshooters of electronics equipment. In one study, mental models of devices are explored. Skilled individuals’ models are much more aligned with a true functional description of the device. Less-skilled individuals exhibit several consistent deficits in their models. In the remaining two studies, skill in executing a simple troubleshooting procedure is examined. Skilled troubleshooters were not only more successful, but results suggested that their errors were computational in nature, whereas less-skilled troubleshooters evidenced conceptual deficits as well. The findings are discussed in terms of new conceptualizations of testing and training complex skill.

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Individual Differences in Technical Troubleshooting

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

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