Carl Westin

6-9 Conclusion 147 6-8-8 Limitations This paper has focused specifically on conflict resolution and disregarded the detec- tion phase. In reality, however, it is questionable whether detection and resolution can be considered separately. The strategies used for conflict resolution are likely intrinsically related to strategies and scanning methods used for conflict detection. Thus, future research should consider both the detection and resolution phase when investigating conflict resolution strategies. Moreover, there are many more individual differences relevant for ATC CD&R that have not been considered in this paper. For example, research by Chen and col- leagues indicates that individual differences in the ability to focus and shift attention in a flexible manner impacts performance in multitasking environments involving human supervision of autonomous robot systems. 257 Similarly in ATC CD&R, this type of attentional control and spatial abilities are considered important for scan- ning traffic and identifying conflicts. It is reasonably to expect that controllers who differ in these abilities view their surrounding differently and therefore use different strategies and derive at different solutions. Thus, it is important to recognize that al- though objectively there is one truth, people perceive the same situation differently. It should be noted that conflict solving cannot be considered static. Controllers continuously adapt and develop new techniques and strategies, for example by learn- ing from difficult situations, watching colleagues, trying out new and different meth- ods, and adapting to new procedures and technologies introduced. 189 Because of this it may be difficult to determine a consistent behavior. While controllers participated in simulations (from advanced trainees to very ex- perienced), the two studies sampled controllers with different experiences (approach and en-route) and working in different countries (Ireland and Sweden). These differ- ences may have attributed to the variation in consistency and agreement observed. Finally, solution options were limited to the horizontal plane, while in reality vertical solutions are commonly used in en-route ATC. Future research should ex- tend the analysis of consistency and agreement to the vertical solution plane. 6-9 Conclusion This chapter has shown that controllers differ in their solution preferences and that they are more diverse in their conflict solving than currently conceived. A conflict solution framework consisting of three strategy classifications were identified, each explaining different consistent problem-solving styles among controllers. Results showed that controllers consistently solved conflicts, yet in different ways accord- ing to three different classification frameworks. For all classifications, however, consistency reduced notably when considering solutions in more detail.