Dr Christopher Bearman, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.

NASA
Ames Research Center
Building 262-4
Moffett Field,
California, U.S.A., 94035
Tel: 650 604 1489
Fax: 650 604 0801
cbearman@mail.arc.nasa.gov

Research Interests:

My research interests are broadly in the field of complex decision making and problem solving in real world environments. I am currently leading a number of projects that examine various aspects of aviation and space decision making:

- the cause, consequences and resolution of breakdowns in pilot/controller coordinated decision making
- Alaskan pilots’ decision heuristics concerning weather
- risk assessment and management in air medical service flights
- the influence of social and psychological factors on Alaskan pilot’s decision making
- the use of prior experience in the Apollo 13 space mission

My Ph.D. work examined the use of analogy by participants solving complex real world management problems and the effects of explanation and evaluation on the analogical problem solving process.

Grants and Awards

Oak Ridge Associated Universities (U.S.A.). NASA Postdoctoral Fellow. Ames Research Center, January 2006 to August 2006

National Research Council (U.S.A.) Post-Doctoral Research Associateship. NASA, Ames Research Center, July 2004 to December 2005.

Economic and Social Research Council (U.K.) Collaborative (CASE) Research Studentship. Award Number 2000030014. Oct 2000 to Sep 2003.

Publications

Peer Reviewed Papers

Bearman, C.R., Ball, L.T., & Ormerod, T.C. (revising and resubmitting). The structure and function of spontaneous analogizing in domain-based problem solving.

Bearman, C.R., Ormerod, T.C., & Ball, L.J. (2003). A negative effect of evaluation upon analogical problem solving. Proceedings of the 25th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society. Mahwah: LEA.

Bearman, C.R., Ball, L.J., & Ormerod, T.C. (2002). An exploration of real-world analogical problem solving in novices. Proceedings of the 24th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society, 101-106. Mahwah: LEA.

Journal Manuscripts in Preparation

Bearman, C.R., Ormerod, T.C., & Ball. L.J. (in preparation). A comparison of the cognitive processes of explanation and evaluation.

Bearman, C.R., Paletz, S.B., Orasanu, J., & Farlow, S. (in preparation). Breakdowns in coordinated pilot/controller decision making in weather and non-weather situation.

Paletz, S.B., Bearman, C.R., Orasanu, J., Holbrook, J., and McCoy, E. (in preparation). Social Psychological Pressures Faced by Alaskan Pilots: Types, Techniques, and Mitigating Factors.

Invited Talks, and Lectures

Bearman, C.R. (2004). Naturalistic decision making and management. Leeds University Business School Seminar Series, Leeds University Business School, Leeds, U.K.

Walker, A., & Bearman, C.R. (2003). Postgraduate perspectives on compulsory registration for psychologists. Learning, Teaching and Support Network (LTSN). Seminar on Compulsory Registration for Psychologists. University of York, York, U.K.

Conference Papers:

Bearman, C.R., Paletz, S.B., Orasanu, J and Farlow, S. (2006). An examination of conflict between pilots and air traffic controllers. In Paletz, S.B. Types, Causes and Countermeasures of Team Conflict. An invited symposium to the APA 2006 Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA. August 10-13.

Orasanu, J., Holbrook, J., McCoy, E., and Bearman, C.R. (2006). Alaskan pilots decision heuristics in bad weather. 77th Annual Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association. Orlando, Fl. May 14th-18th.

Bearman, C.R., Paletz, S.B., Orasanu, J., Farlow, S., & Bernhard, R. (2005). Alternative perspectives and aviation weather: Pilot/Air traffic controller conflicts involving weather. Proceedings of the Thirteenth International Symposium on Aviation Psychology, Oklahoma City, OK.

Bearman, C.R., Ball, L.J., & Ormerod, T.C. (2004). The effects of evaluation and explanation on analogical problem solving. Fifth International Conference on Thinking. Lueven, Belgium.

Bearman, C.R., Ball, L.J., & Ormerod, T.C. (2004). Three theories that explain the negative effect of evaluation on analogical problem solving. PsyPAG Annual Conference, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, U.K.

Bearman, C.R., (2004). A consideration of novices in naturalistic decision making: Decision making in aviation, space and management. PsyPAG Annual Conference, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, U.K.

Bearman, C.R., Ormerod, T.C., & Ball, L.J. (2003). Evaluation and analogical problem solving. PsyPAG Annual Conference, Wolverhampton University, Wolverhampton, U.K.

Bearman, C.R., & Ball, L.J. (2001). The influence of problem solving strategy and working memory on task success in Wason’s 2,4,6 problem. Joint ESCOP/BPS Cognitive Section conference. Edinburgh University, Edinburgh, U.K.

Wan, M.W., Atherton, C.A., & Bearman, C.R. (2001). A survey of postgraduates opinions of postdoctoral work. British Psychology Society Annual Conference, Imperial Hotel, Blackpool, U.K.

Bearman, C.R. (2000). An evaluation of the extent to which SPSS supports the needs of novice users. British Psychological Society London conference. London Institute of Education, London, U.K.

Bearman, C.R. (2000). Problematizing competition II: An examination of how people talk about competition. PsyPAG Annual Conference. Glasgow University, Glasgow, U.K.

Bearman, C.R. (1999). Problematizing competition: A critical examination of competiveness. PsyPAG Annual Conference. Lancaster University, Lancaster, U.K.

Academic (non-research) Articles:

Bearman, C.R., Morrison, L., Napier, B., & Norgate, S., (in press). So You Want to do a Ph.D.?: Guidelines for prospective psychology research students. Leicester: British Psychological Society

Bearman, C.R. (2003). Spotlight on postgraduates. The Psychologist, 16, 1, 12-13.

Bearman, C.R. (2002). How to… Apply for a Ph.D. The Psychologist, 15, 7, 340-341

Professional Development:

Reviewing-

Reviewer for the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology
Reviewer for the Cognitive Science Conference

Academic Committees-

Postgraduate representative to the British Psychological Society Cognitive Psychology Section Committee. Sep 1999 to Jul 2004
Chair of the Psychology Postgraduate Affairs Group. Jul 2001 to Jul 2004
Postgraduate representative to the British Psychological Society Research Board. Jul 2001 to Jul 2004
Member of the British Psychological Society Research Board Executive Committee. Jul 2002 to Jul 2004

Conferences Organized

PsyPAG Annual Conference at Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, 2004