Current Research

Dr. Boehm-Davis' research focuses on how human performance is helped or hindered by the design of tools that help us accomplish everyday tasks with a particular interest in how improving the display of information can improve human performance. Her current research falls into three categories: aviation, the influence of interruptions on performance, and improving performance in the medical domain. In the past, she has been involved in work on cognitive workload, highway transportation, and software comprehension.

Selected Publications

PUBLICATIONS

JOURNAL/BOOK PUBLICATIONS

Boehm-Davis, D. A. (in press). George Mason University’s Arch Lab. In R. W. Rieber (Ed.), Encyclopedia of the History of Psychological Theories, Springer.

Cades, D. M., Boehm-Davis, D. A., Monk, C. A. & Trafton, J. G. (2011). Mitigating Disruptive Effects of Interruptions through Training:  What Needs to be Practiced? Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, Vol 17(2), 97-109. doi: 10.1037/a0023497 

Werner, N. E., Cades, D. M., Boehm-Davis, D. A., Peterson, M. S., Alothman, S. J., Zhang, X. (2010). Individual differences in resuming interrupted tasks. Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences, 96 (3), 35-49.

Boehm-Davis, D. A. & Remington, R. (2009) Reducing the disruptive effects of interruption: A cognitive framework for analysing the costs and benefits of intervention strategies. Accident Analysis and Prevention , 41,1124–1129.

Cades, D. M., Jones, S. M., Werner, N. E., & Boehm-Davis, D. A. (2008). Knowing When to Switch Tasks: Effectiveness of Internal versus External Cues. Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences. Fall, 93-109.

Monk, C. A., Trafton, J. G., & Boehm-Davis, D. A. (2008). The Effect of Interruption Duration and Demand on Resuming Suspended Goals. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 14, 299–313.

Mayfield, T., & Boehm-Davis, D. A. (2008). Applied Methods for Requirements Engineering. In D. Schmorrow, J. Cohn, & D. Nicholson (Eds.) The PSI Handbook of Virtual Environments for Training and Education: Developments for the Military and Beyond. Westport, CT: Praeger Security International.

Boehm-Davis, D. A. (Ed.) (2008). Reviews of Human Factors and Ergonomics, Volume 3. Santa Monica, CA: Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

Boehm-Davis, D. A. (2008). Discoveries and Developments in Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors, 50, 560-564.

Ratwani, R. M., Trafton, J. G., & Boehm-Davis, D. A. (2008). Thinking graphically: Connecting vision and cognition during graph comprehension. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 14 (1), 36-49.

Boehm-Davis, D. A., Casali, J. G., Kleiner, B. M., Lancaster, J., Saleem, J., Wochinger. K. (2007). Pilot performance, strategy and workload while executing approaches at steep angles and with lower landing minima. Human Factors, 49, 759-772.

Boehm-Davis, D. A. (2006). Improving Product Safety and Effectiveness in the Home. In R. S. Nickerson (Ed.), Reviews of Human Factors and Ergonomics, Volume 1. Santa Monica, CA: Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 219-253.

Wochinger, K. & Boehm-Davis, D. A. (2005). Pilots’ Perspectives on the Pilot-monitored Approach: Findings from a Web Survey. International Journal of Applied Aviation Studies, 5 (2), 321-334.

Monk, C. A., Boehm-Davis, D. A., & Trafton, J. G. (2004). Recovering from interruptions: Implications for driver distraction research. Human Factors, 4, 650-663.

Boehm-Davis, D. A. & Holt, R. W. (2004). The science of human performance: Methods and metrics. In J. W. Ness, V. Tepe, & D. Ritzer (Eds.), The science and simulation of human performance, 5. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 157-193.

Schoppek, W. & Boehm-Davis, D. A. (2004). Opportunities and challenges of modeling user behavior in complex real world tasks. MMI interaktiv, 7, 47-60.

Boehm-Davis, D. A. (2004). Revisiting information systems as an interdisciplinary science, Computers in Human Behavior, 20 (2), 341-344.

Greenwood, D. M., Holt, R. W., & Boehm-Davis, D. A. (2002). Training airline instructor pilots to evaluate air crew performance. International Journal of Aviation Research and Development, 2, 37-56.

Furman, S., Boehm-Davis, D. A., and Holt, R. W. (2002) Communicating across the biological hierarchy of life? A look at programmers communicating through their programs. Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences, 88 (2), 73-88.

Holt, Robert W; Hansberger, Jeffrey T., & Boehm-Davis, Deborah A. (2002) Improving rater calibration in aviation: A case study. International Journal of Aviation Psychology. 12(3), 305-330.

Boehm-Davis, D. A. Empirical research on program comprehension. (2001). In John J. Marciniak (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Software Engineering, NY: Wiley Publishers, 469-481.

Boehm-Davis, D. A., Holt, R. W., & Seamster, T. (2001). Airline resource management programs. In E. Salas, C. A. Bowers, and E. Edens (Eds.), Improving teamwork in organizations: Applications of Resource Management Training, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 191-215.

Holt, R. W., Boehm-Davis, D. A., & Beaubien, J. M. (2001). Evaluating resource management training. In E. Salas, C. A. Bowers, and E. Edens (Eds.), Improving teamwork in organizations: Applications of Resource Management Training, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 165-188.

Gray, W. D., & Boehm-Davis, D. A. (2000). Milliseconds matter: An introduction to microstrategies and to their use in describing and predicting interactive behavior. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 6, 322-335.

Fox, J. E. & Boehm-Davis, D. A. (1998). Effects of age and congestion information accuracy of advanced traveler information systems on user trust and compliance. Transportation Research Record 1621 (Safety and Human Performance). Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 43-49.

Wochinger, K. & Boehm-Davis, D. A. (1996). Navigation preference and performance with different navigation displays. Ian Noy (Editor), Ergonomics of IVHS. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 345-362.

Gray, W. D. & Boehm-Davis, D. A. (Eds.) (1996). Empirical studies of programmers: Sixth Workshop, Norwood, NJ: Ablex.

Sebrechts, M., Silverman, B., Boehm-Davis, D., & Norman, K. (1996). Establishing an Electronic Collaborative Learning Environment in a University Consortium: The CIRCLE Project, Computers and Education, 25 (4), 215-225.

Boehm-Davis, D. A., Fox, J., & Philips, B. (1996). Techniques for exploring software comprehension. In W. D. Gray and D. A. Boehm-Davis (Eds.). Empirical studies of programmers: Sixth Workshop, Norwood, NJ: Ablex, 3-37.

Mahach, K., Boehm-Davis, D. A., & Holt, R. W. (1995). The effects of mice and pull-down menus vs. command-driven interfaces on writing. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 7 (3), 213-234.

Boehm-Davis, D. A. (1995). Human-computer interaction techniques. In J. Weimer (Ed.), Research techniques in human engineering. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 268-301.

Boehm-Davis, D. A., Holt, R. W., & Peters, R. D. (1993). Effects of different data base formats on information modification, Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences, 83, 107-123.

Hartson, H. R., & Boehm-Davis, D. (1993). User interface development processes and methodologies. Behaviour and Information Technology, 12, 98-114.

Boehm Davis, D. A., Holt, R. W., & Schultz, A. C. (1992). The role of program structure in software maintenance. International Journal of Man Machine Studies, 36, 21-63.

Boehm Davis, D. A., & Ross, L. (1992). Program design methodologies and the software development process. International Journal of Man Machine Studies, 36, 1-19.

Michalski, R. S., Dontas, K., & Boehm Davis, D. A. (1990). Plausible reasoning: An outline of theory and experiments to validate its structural aspects. In M. Zemankova (Ed.) Advances in Expert Systems.

Boehm Davis, D., Holt, R., Koll, M., Yastrop, G., & Peters, R. (1989). The effects of different data base formats on information retrieval, Human Factors, 31, 579-592.

Holt, R. W., Boehm Davis, D. A., & Schultz, A. C. (1989). Multi level structured documentation, Human Factors, 31, 215 228.

Curtis, B., Sheppard, S. B., Kruesi Bailey, E., Bailey, J., & Boehm Davis, D. A. (1989). Experimental evaluation of software documentation formats. The Journal of Systems and Software, 9, 167 207.

Boehm Davis, D. A. (1989). Knowledge elicitation and representation. In J. Elkind, S. Card, J. Hochberg, & B. M. Huey (Eds.) Human performance models for computer aided engineering, Committee on Human Factors, Washington, D. C.: National Academy Press, 291 298.

Boehm Davis, D. A. (1989). Review of "Behavioral experiments on handmarkings" by Gould and Salaun, Computing Reviews, 30, 106.

Boehm Davis, D. A. (1988). Special issue preface (to Special Issue on Expert Systems). Human Factors, 30, 377 379.

Boehm Davis, D. A. (1988). Software Comprehension. In M. Helander (Ed.) Handbook of Human Computer Interaction. New York: North Holland, 107 121.

Boehm Davis, D. A., Sheppard, S. B., and Bailey, J. W. (1987). Program design languages: How much detail should they include?, International Journal of Man Machine Studies, 27, 337 347.

Holt, R. W., Boehm Davis, D. A., & Schultz, A. (1987). Mental representations of programs for student and professional programmers. In G. Olson, S. Sheppard, and E. Soloway (Eds.) Empirical Studies of Programmers II. Norwood, N.J.: Ablex, 33-46.

Boehm Davis, D.A., & Fregly, A.M. (1985). Documentation of concurrent programs. Human Factors, 27, 423 432.

Boehm Davis, D. A. (1983). On the use of psychology in evaluating software documentation. Behavior Research Methods and Instrumentation, 15, 217 221.

Boehm Davis, D. A., Curry, R. E., Wiener, E. L., & Harrison, R. L. (1983). Human factors of flight deck automation NASA/Industry workshop, Ergonomics, 26, 953 961.

REFEREED CONFERENCE PUBLICATIONS

Werner, N., Cades, D. M., Peterson, M., & Boehm-Davis, D.A. (in press). Resuming after Interruption: Exploring the roles of spatial and goal memory. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society.

Boehm-Davis, D. A., Smith, C. M. and Prada, L. R. (2009). Training for Automated Systems. Proceedings of the International Ergonomics Association Triennial Congress. Beijing, China.

Cades, D. M., Werner, N., Trafton, J. G., Boehm-Davis, D. A., & Monk, C. A. (2008). Dealing with Interruptions can be Complex, but does Interruption Complexity Matter: a Mental Resources Approach to Quantifying Disruptions. In Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society.

Grier, R., Wickens, C., Kaber, D., Strayer, D., Boehm-Davis, D., Trafton, J. G., St. John, M. (2008). The Red-Line of Workload: Theory, Research, and Design. In the Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society (Abstract).

Cades, D. M., Boehm-Davis, D. A., Trafton, J. G., & Monk, C. A. (2007). Does the Difficulty of an Interruption Affect our Ability to Resume? In Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society, 234-238.

Prada, L. R., Boehm-Davis, D. A., Riley, V., & Smith, C. F. (2007). Designing, evaluating, and training flight decks of the future. In Proceedings of the 14th International Symposium on Aviation Psychology, Dayton, OH.

Prada, L. R., Mumaw, R., Boehm-Davis, D. A., Boorman, D. (2006). Training Boeing's Flight Deck of the Future: A Comparison Between Current and Prototype Automated Flight Panels. In Proceedings of the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting.

Cades, D., Trafton, J. G., & Boehm-Davis, D. A. (2006) Mitigating Disruptions: Can Resuming an Interrupted Task Be Trained? In Proceedings of the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting. Santa Monica, CA: The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 368-371.

Smith, C. F., Fadden, S., & Boehm-Davis, D. A. (2005). Use of a Functional Aviation Display Under Varying Workload Conditions. In Proceedings of the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting.

Diez, M., Sherry, L., & Boehm-Davis, D. A. (2004). RAFIV: A Method for Cognitive Usability Analysis. In Proceedings of the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting.

Prada, L. R., Boehm-Davis, D. A. (2004). GOMS on the flight deck: A case study of the Boeing 777 MCP. In Proceedings of the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting.

Boehm-Davis, D. A., Holt, R. W., Chong, R. & Hansberger, J. T. (2004). Using cognitive modeling to understand Crew Behavior. In Proceedings of the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting.

Smith, C. F., Boehm-Davis, D. A., & Chong, R. (2004). The effect of functional information on an avionics display. In Proceedings of the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting.

Bruce, D., Boehm-Davis, D. A., & Mahach, K. (2004). A comparison of auditory and visual in-vehicle information displays. In Proceedings of Human Performance, Situation Awareness and Automation Technology Conference, Daytona Beach, FL, Mar. 22-25.

Sherry, L., Diez, M., & Boehm-Davis, D. A. (2003). Why the FMS is hard to learn and difficult to use. In Proceedings of the 22nd Digital Avionics Systems Conference.

Ratwani, R. M., Trafton, J. G., & Boehm-Davis, D. A. (2003). Thinking graphically: Extracting local and global information. In Proceedings of the Cognitive Science Annual Meeting, Boston, MA.

Diez, M. Boehm-Davis, D. A., & Holt, R. W. (2003). Checklist performance on the commercial flight-deck. In Proceedings of the 12th International Symposium on Aviation Psychology, 323-328.

Beaubien, J.M., Cortina, J. M., Boehm-Davis, D. A., Holt, R. W., & Adelman, L. (2003). The effects of perceived cohesion and efficacy on pilot crews’ LOE performance. In Proceedings of the 12th International Symposium on Aviation Psychology, 98-103.

Boehm-Davis, D. A. (2003) The Next Revolution: Vehicle User-Interfaces and the Global Rider/Driver Experience: Panelist Position. In Proceedings of CHI '03 Human Factors in Computing Systems, New York: ACM.

Diez, M., Boehm-Davis, D. A., and Holt, R. W. (2002) Model-based predictions of interrupted checklists. In Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 46th Annual Meeting, 250-254.

Monk, C. A., Boehm-Davis, D. A., and Trafton, J. G. (2002) The attentional costs of interrupting performance at various stages. In Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 46th Annual Meeting, 1824-1828.

Holt, R. W., Hansberger, J. T., Chong, R. S., & Boehm-Davis, D. A. (2002). Modeling aviation crew interaction using a cognitive architecture (Abstract). In Proceedings of the Cognitive Science Annual Meeting, Fairfax, VA, 41.

Boehm-Davis, D. A., Holt, R. W., Diez, M., & Hansberger, J. T. (2002). Developing and validating cockpit interventions based on cognitive modeling (Abstract). In Proceedings of the Cognitive Science Annual Meeting, Fairfax, VA, 27.

Diez, M., Boehm-Davis, D. A., Holt, R. W., Pinney, M. E., Hansberger, J. T., & Schoppek, W. (2001). Tracking pilot interactions with flight management systems through eye movements. Proceedings of the 11th International Symposium on Aviation Psychology.

Beaubien, J. M., Holt, R. W., Hamman, W. R., & Boehm-Davis, D. A. (2001). The effect of evaluation purpose on crew performance ratings across comparable training events. Proceedings of the 11th International Symposium on Aviation Psychology.

Beaubien, J. M., Holt, R. W., Hamman, W. R., & Boehm-Davis, D. A. (2001). The application of HLM techniques to commercial aviation research. Proceedings of the 11th International Symposium on Aviation Psychology.

Boehm-Davis, D. A., Gray, W. D., & Schoelles, M. The eye blink as a physiological indicator of cognitive workload. (July 31, 2000). Proceedings of the International Ergonomics Association/Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 2000 Congress, Volume 6, 116-119.

Bruce, D., Boehm-Davis, D. A., & Mahach, K. (2000) In-vehicle auditory display of symbolic information. Proceedings of the International Ergonomics Association/Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 2000 Congress. Volume 3, 230-233.

Boehm-Davis, D. A., Schoppek, W., Diez, M., Hansberger, J. T., & Holt, R. W. (2000) Cognitive modeling of airline crew automation errors (Abstract). Proceedings of the International Ergonomics Association/Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 2000 Congress, Volume 3, 95.

Holt, R. W., Boehm-Davis, D. A., Hansberger, J. T., Seamster, T. S., Schultz, K., & Hamman, B. (2000) Proceduralizing teamwork in aviation crews (Abstract). Proceedings of the International Ergonomics Association/Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 2000 Congress, Volume 3, 99.

Boehm-Davis, D. A., Holt, R. W., Hansberger, J. T., & Seamster, T. L. (1999). Overview of lessons learned developing ACRM for a Regional Carrier. Proceedings of the 10th International Symposium on Aviation Psychology, 966-972.

Hansberger, J. T., Holt, R. W., & Boehm-Davis, D. A. (1999). Instructor/evaluator evaluations of ACRM effectiveness. Proceedings of the 10th International Symposium on Aviation Psychology, 279-284.

Holt, R. W., Boehm-Davis, D. A., & Hansberger, J. T. (1999). Evaluating effectiveness of ACRM using LOE and line-check data. Proceedings of the 10th International Symposium on Aviation Psychology, 273-278.

Ikomi, P.A., Boehm-Davis, Holt, R.W., D.A., & Incalcaterra, K.A. (1999). Jump seat observations of advanced crew resource management (ACRM) effectiveness. Proceedings of the 10th International Symposium on Aviation Psychology, 292-297.

Seamster, T. L., Boehm-Davis, D. A., Holt, R. W., & Edens, E. S. (1999). Design of advanced crew resource management (ACRM) training. Proceedings of the 10th International Symposium on Aviation Psychology, 973-979.

Williams, D, M., Holt, R.W., & Boehm-Davis, D. A. (1997). Training for inter-rater reliability: Baselines and benchmarks. Proceedings of the 9th International Symposium on Aviation Psychology, 514-519.

Boehm-Davis, D. A., Holt, R. W., & Hansberger, J. T. (1997). Pilot Abilities and Performance. Proceedings of the 9th International Symposium on Aviation Psychology, 462-467.

Wochinger, K., Philips, B., & Boehm-Davis, D. A. (1997). The effects of spatial scanning ability, perceptual speed, age, and navigation aid on navigation performance. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 41st Annual Meeting, 1013-1017.

James, C. L., Wochinger, K., James, W.S., & Boehm-Davis, D. A. (1997). Visual, perceptual, and cognitive measures as predictors of collision detection in older drivers. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 41st Annual Meeting, 1018-1022.

Hansberger, J., Holt, R.W., & Boehm-Davis, D. A. (1997). Is less experience better among pilot evaluators? (Abstract). Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 41st Annual Meeting, 1380.

Boehm-Davis, D. A., Norman, K. L., Sebrechts, M. M., Silverman, B. G. (1996). Using technology to team teach across institutions: The CIRCLE project. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 40th Annual Meeting, 468-472.

Bohan, J. A., Marshall, R., Boehm-Davis, D. A., & Schmidt-Nielsen, A. (1995). The role of individual differences in determining interaction strategies and performance in computer-based tasks. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 39th Annual Meeting, 248-252.

Boehm-Davis, D. A., Philips, B., & Littman, D. C. (1994). Explanation and goals in software comprehension. In C. James and M. Salzman (Eds.), Proceedings of the 2nd Mid-Atlantic Human Factors Conference, Washington, DC: GMU Student Chapter of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES), the Potomac Chapter of the HFES, and Division 21 of the American Psychological Association, 25-29.

Walker, J., Sedney, K., Wochinger, K., Boehm-Davis, D. A., & Perez, W. (1993). Age differences in the useful field of view in a part-task simulator. Proceedings of the Human Factors Society Annual Meeting, 37, 960-963.

Boehm-Davis, D. A., Harris, J., & Littman, D. C. (1993). Toward a goal-based theory of software comprehension. Proceedings of the First Mid-Atlantic Human Factors Conference, 203-209.

Huey, B., & Boehm-Davis, D.A. (1992). Individual differences in the performance of a process control task. Proceedings of the Human Factors Society Annual Meeting, 36, 897-901.

Boehm-Davis, D.A., & Mast, T. (1992). Human Factors and Commercial Vehicle Operations. Proceedings of the Human Factors Society Annual Meeting, 36, 1078-1081.

Holt, R. W., Boehm Davis, D. A., Fitzgerald, K. A., Matyuf, M. M., Baughman, W. A., & Littman, D. C. (1991). Behavioral validation of a hazardous thought pattern instrument. In Proceedings of the Human Factors Society Annual Meeting, 35, 77-81.

Michalski, R. S., Dontas, K., & Boehm Davis, D. A. (1989). Plausible reasoning: An outline of theory and experiments. In "Methodologies for intelligent systems IV", Z. Ras (Ed.), North Holland, 260-272.

Peters, R., Yastrop, G., & Boehm Davis, D. A. (1988). Predicting Information Retrieval Performance. In Proceedings of the Human Factors Society Annual Meeting, 32, 301 305.

Boehm Davis, D. A., Holt, R. W., & Schultz, A. C. (1987). The development and use of cognitive representations of software in a modification task. In Proceedings of the IEEE Systems, Man, and Cybernetics Meeting, 990 994.

Boehm Davis, D., Holt, R., Koll, M., Yastrop, G., & Peters, R. (1987). The effects of different data base formats on information retrieval. In Proceedings of the Human Factors Society Annual Meeting, 31, 983 987.

Boehm Davis, D. A. (1987). Documentation in the product development cycle. In Proceedings of INTERFACE '87, Rochester, N.Y., 217 225.

Boehm Davis, D. A., & Ross, L. S. (1985). Program Design Methodologies: Structuring the Software Development Process. In Proceedings of the IEEE Man, Systems, and Cybernetics Annual Meeting, 371-374.

Boehm Davis, D. A. (1985). Methodology and problem representation in programming. (Abstract) In Proceedings of the Human Factors Society Annual Meeting, 29, 30.

Boehm Davis, D. A. (1984). On the nature of information in software. (Abstract) In Proceedings of the Human Factors Society Annual Meeting, 28, 546.

Boehm Davis, D. A., & Fregly, A. M. (1983, December). Documentation of concurrent programs. In Proceedings CHI '83 Human Factors in Computing Systems, New York: ACM, 256 261.

Boehm Davis, D. A., Sheppard, S. B., & Bailey, J. W. (1982, October). An empirical evaluation of language tailord PDLs. In Proceedings of the Human Factors Society Annual Meeting, 26, 984 988.

Boehm Davis, D. A., Sheppard, S. B., & Bailey, J. W. (1982, June). An empirical evaluation of language tailord PDLs. (Abstract) In Proceedings of the Twenty First Annual Technical Symposium on Computing and Government: Interactions and Achievements, Washington, D.C.: Association for Computing Machinery, 69.

SELECTED TECHNICAL REPORTS

Boehm-Davis, D. A. (Rapporteur) (2008, August). Assessing the Research and Development Plan for the Next Generation Air Transportation System: Summary of a Workshop. Washington, DC: National Research Council of the National Academies.

Lyall, E. A., Boehm-Davis, D. A., & Jentsch, F. (2008, May). Automation Training Practitioners’ Guide. FAA Technical Report, Washington, DC.

Lyall, E. A., Boehm-Davis, D. A. (2008, April). Summary of Automation Training Research Questions Survey, FAA Technical Report, Washington, DC.