Trust: Key Elements in Human Supervisory Control Domains

This study aimed to investigate the concept of trust within human supervisory control domains. Using repertory grid methodology, a small homogeneous sample of control engineers from two individual companies within the energy distribution industry were found to share a commonality in what they considered to be important characteristics of trust across three groups: intra-team, inter-team and technology. Sixty constructs were elicited which were reduced to 13 core constructs using content analysis. These were categorised into three separate dimensions; emotive, cognitive and behavioural. Differences were found, both within and between the three groups, according to participants’ scored level of trust for each group. These results are discussed with a view to developing strategies that may enhance trusting behaviours, especially between teams in applied controlled settings.

Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK, , , , , , GB

   M. J. Ashleigh

2. Department of Design, Brunel University, Egham, UK, , , , , , GB

   N. A. Stanton

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