Performance Evaluation Tests for Environmental Research (Peter): Bibliography

Abstract

Listed are 90 reports of the Performance Evaluation Tests for Environmental Research (PETER) Program. Conducted from 1977 to 1982, the programs' purpose was to develop a test battery for use in repeated measures investigations of environmental effects on human performance, e.g., vehicle motion, toxic substances, aging, etc. The battery also has applications to training, selection, and research on equipment design. The PETER Program concentrated on selecting tests which remained stable with repeated measurements, as environmental research usually involves testing before, during, and after exposure. Stability of the means, variances, and intertrial correlations ensures that simple analyses may be applied with minimal complications and without difficulties of attribution of effect. Over 80 measures were evaluated, 30% were found suitable for repeated measures applications, 20% were acceptable for limited use, and 50% could not be recommended. The unsuitability of many tasks brings into question the validity of portions of the literature on environmental effects. The reports describe program rationale, development of statistical methodology, and stable tasks. PETER reports are available from published sources, authors, or the Naval Biodynamics Laboratory.