Methods for Determining the Role of Fatigue and Cognitive Load on Behavior Detection Officers (BDOs) Performance in the Field

Job analysis and cognitive task analysis (CTA) are two methods for identifying all job tasks, both observable and unobservable respectively, which correlate to successful job performance. These methods will be applied to the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA’s) Behavior Detection Officers (BDOs) to identify the elements which compose their job and to identify what elements are most difficult, important and frequently accomplished in the support of our national security. This paper will describe one method for conducting a job analysis on the BDO job and then a method for following that work with a cognitive task analysis. The described JA and CTA will provide a scientific foundation for future research and analysis of the BDO job position and successful performance of that job.