Minimizing the negative effects of prospective memory in simulated air traffic control

Forgetting to perform deferred task actions [prospective memory (PM) failures] in safety-critical work environments, such as air traffic control, can be fatal. Research has also shown that having a PM task demand can result in a performance cost to other tasks. This thesis examined methods to reduce PM error and costs in simulated air traffic control by providing memory aids, increasing training, strengthening task stimulus-response mapping, increasing the importance of PM tasks, or re-framing PM task instructions. The data indicated it is possible to greatly minimise PM error and costs. Implications for applied settings and future research are discussed.