Development of performance evaluation tests for environmental research (PETER): navigation plotting.

A navigation plotting task, modeled after actual shipboard navigation and plotting practices, was evaluated for inclusion in the Performance Evaluation Tests for Environmental Research (PETER) task battery. The differential stability of the 9-min self-paced task was examined independently in the laboratory and during a field study conducted at sea aboard three seagoing vessels. Repeated testing in both laboratory and field conditions showed that the percent correct metric was not reliable. After 10-15 practice trials, the total completion and total correct scores were found to meet minimum statistical stability and reliability criteria. Inclusion of the Navigation Plotting task in the PETER test battery is recommended given the task's direct operational validity, its demonstrated sensitivity to vessel motion and motion sickness, and the degree of statistical stability and reliability found with the total completion and total correct metrics.