Any research leads on human error??

March 14, 2006 1:23 PM

Specifically I'm looking for the tendency, I believe this is correct, for practitioners in a domain (e.g., surgeons, race car drivers, whatever) to become prone to errors after seven (7) years, owing to perceived expertise, complacence, and that this becomes a particularly dangerous time. Any leads GREATLY appreciated!
posted by adamrobinson to Science & Nature (2 answers total)

This is only somewhat related, but since you haven't gotten any responses, I thought "Unskilled and Unaware of It: How Difficulties in Recognizing One's Own Incompetence Lead to Inflated Self-Assessments" was really interesting. It has more to do with people who are generally incompetent at something, as opposed to those who have expertise and grow complacent, but it might point you in some helpful directions.
posted by Brian James at 5:53 PM on March 14, 2006

You may want to check out Complications: A Surgeons Notes on an Imperfect Science by Atul Gawande, specifically the chapter entitled "When Good Doctors Go Bad." Gawande tells the story of a surgeon who lost his license, interspersed with general information on the subject of doctors "burning out."

I don't remember the author ever coming to a definite conclusion on the cause of the problem, and am almost positive that he never gives the seven years figure, but hopefully it will get you started.
posted by hooves at 9:31 PM on March 14, 2006