"There is a wide disparity in commercial airplane accident rates in different parts of the world," she explained, "and one of the factors for this may be cultural differences in cognition, or the way people think."
Klein has served as a consultant to Boeing on this issue with the task of helping the airplane manufacturer address cultural differences between Western nations and other countries in the design and operation of their commercial aircraft.
Klein has more than 20 years of teaching and research experience in cognitive psychology, which is the study of how people think and make decisions. She was asked by Boeing to conduct her research because of the airline manufacturer's concern over cultural differences in airline protocol and procedures. "You don't provide equipment designed by and for Western minds to foreign nations and expect everything to operate in the same way. Design and education have to reflect national patterns of thought," she explained.
The Wright State faculty member said there are several ways foreign pilots might differ from Americans. "Their thinking may be more present oriented, personal respect may be a priority over regulations, differences exist in risk perception, there may be more discomfort with challenging authority and they may value precision planning over flexible planning," she explained.
Klein said national infrastructure also contributes to safety through personnel training and equipment. Suggestions for Boeing from Klein's research include acknowledging that training programs for one nation may not be appropriate for another. "Boeing may want to re-examine its training programs in light of what we are learning about cultural differences in cognition," she said.
Klein said it is important for aviation safety to recognize cultural differences when managing errors and developing team coordination. She said Boeing can address this by customizing procedures, policies and training for different regions of the world.
She noted that these problems also are manifested in other areas where she has undertaken research. This includes working with the peace-keeping forces in Bosnia and efforts by the military to better understand coalition partners. "These are examples of international challenges facing technology, business and communities throughout the world," she added.
For more information, contact Klein at 937-775-2391 or helen.klein@wright.edu.