Background
Research Higher Degree Student Grant alumni Shannon Kelly is exploring how the rise of automation will affect how we work while paving her own way in the industry.
The DSC Research Higher Degree Student Grant (RHDSG) provides funding to students working on collaborative Defence relevant projects and/or undertaking defence industry placements as part of their study.
“There has been a recent shift to automating as many processes as we can. My research puts the worker front of mind and looks into the impact for that person. It’s about taking a human centred approach, instead of looking at things purely in terms of productivity.”
Approach
Shannon was awarded a $7,500 RHDSG from the Defence Science Centre (DSC) while studying a Psychology Masters in 2021 for a project that explored the ways modern automation affects feelings of stress and dehumanisation in workers.
Specifically, Shannon’s research focussed on the effects automation had on feelings of dehumanisation and eustress (beneficial stress) in people who work on managing air traffic in an experiential task.
“Eustress is the positive stress where we're able to balance the demands that are faced—it’s the state in which we can perform well. My research suggested that when greater automation is used, we have reduced feelings of eustress,” Shannon said.
Her research found that higher rates of automation reduced eustress and worker engagement and could negatively impact worker wellbeing.
For Defence, this work could have important impacts in human performance, as tasks across the organisation become increasingly automated.
Outcome
As part of her RHDSG project, Shannon engaged with a mining company through a presentation and a facilitated workshop. She also presented to the School of Psychological Science at the University of Western Australia.
The experience proved valuable in landing Shannon an industry job after she completed her Masters studies.
“Collaborating between industry and academia was great. Through the RHDSG, I was able to work with a human factors consultancy and industry based supervisor, and bring the findings to practice,” Shannon said.
Since completing her RHDSG project, Shannon has presented her research at the Australian Psychological Society conference in Queensland.
Looking to the future, Shannon hopes to pursue a PhD in the effects automation may have on dehumanisation.
Round 5 of the Research Higher Degree Student Grant is now open. Submit your application now!
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