Goodrum, P M; Miller, J; Sweany, J and Alruwaythi, O (2016) Influence of the format of engineering information and spatial cognition on craft-worker performance. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 142(9): 04016043, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
A series of field trials with pipefitters in North America was conducted to explore how their spatial cognition influenced their performance on a scale model assembly task. Participants were provided one of three information formats, traditional, two-dimensional (2D) isometric drawings, 2D isometric drawings supplemented with a 2D visual rendering of a three-dimensional (3D) image of the assembly, and 2D isometric drawings supplemented with a 3D physical model of the assembly. Card rotation and cube comparison tests were administered to measure spatial cognition. This paper's primary contribution centers around the discovery that individual spatial cognition significantly influenced the pipefitter's performance, but the format of information can neutralize the effect. Both the information format and spatial cognition significantly influenced performance. When only 2D information was provided, participants with relatively low spatial cognition performed significantly worse than participants with relatively higher spatial cognition. When the 2D isometric drawings were supplemented with 3D information, participants with lower spatial cognition were able to complete the model assembly as efficiently and effectively as participants with higher spatial cognition.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | cognitive analysis; engineering information delivery; labor and personnel issues; labor productivity; spatial cognition |
| Index terms: | information delivery, labour productivity, pipefitter, drawing, physical model, personnel, field trial, cognition |
| Subjects: | practitioner, data collection methods, technical documentation, management, manufacturing engineering, information systems, cognitive psychology |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Engineering Principles, Research Practice, Site Management, Human Resources, Digital Applications, Design Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here