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Expert Identity construct in analysing prerequisites for expertise development: a case study of nuclear power plant operators’ on-the-job training

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Abstract

This article discusses how shifting the focus of research to the emotional side of human actions and cognition could create new perspectives on the problem of how to support the human operator in the control of rare disturbances. A new construct, Expert Identity, is described. A qualitative study of the specific problems with changing the operator generation at a nuclear power plant is presented. The results indicate that the current identity of the trainees is more or less still one of the trainees. The conceived demands of operator work and the perceived learning opportunities are characterised by a dichotomy: disturbances or other exceptional situations emerge as different from daily work. The key challenge and motive for the trainees in the development of expertise is to achieve not only an adequate degree of competence but also to construct confidence in being able to cope with potential disturbance situations.

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Notes

  1. Polanyi (1958, 1983) uses the term “tacit knowledge” to refer to the formation of patterns or cues that signify the features of the environment that are relevant for the action. Because these cues are not within the focal attention during action, but rather in a subsidiary position, the resulting knowledge is tacit, implicit but yet operative. This is due to the comprehension of the meaning of the cues in the context of the whole. According to the presented construct, emotions can be a part of this “tacit knowledge”.

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Acknowledgements

The study was funded by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and VTT. I would also like to thank my colleagues Teemu Reiman, Pia Oedewald and Kristiina Hukki, who participated in the conduction of the study. Special thanks to the employees of Teollisuuden Voima Oy who took part in the study.

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    Maaria Nuutinen

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Nuutinen, M. Expert Identity construct in analysing prerequisites for expertise development: a case study of nuclear power plant operators’ on-the-job training. Cogn Tech Work 7, 288–305 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-005-0013-9

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