Using Cognitive Psychology Research to Inform Professional Visual Search Operations

Visual search-locating target(s) among distractors-is a common practice that can range in difficulty from trivially easy to nearly impossible. Professional searches (e.g., airport security, radiology) typically are among the most complicated and challenging tasks, and also often among the most important. The current discussion examines empirical findings in the cognitive psychology literature that contribute to professional search operations, with an emphasis on airport security screening. Primarily, this article focuses on multiple ways to achieve optimal proficiency in security screenings, including personnel selection, training, and continuing assessments. Some of the existing best practices include using orthogonal visual search tasks as predictors of future performance (for selection), item-specific training (for expertise development), and annual competency tests (for continuing assessment). Future research opportunities are discussed, with one especially notable area for future research involving how individuals can potentially develop optimal scanning behaviors for professional search.