SYSTEMS ANALYSIS

Firstly, an extensive literature review into systems theory, accident causation and analysis theory, models and methods was conducted. During this literature review, evidence of a research-gap was gathered.

The literature review provided the starting point for four studies which were conducted to explore the research topic. Following a mixed methods approach and with the findings of one study informing the next, the four studies included:

• Study 1 - An evaluation of the accident analysis literature and techniques, in order to understand how their characteristics could influence the research-practice gap

• Study 2 - Semi-structured interviews with 42 safety professionals from around the world to understand how the activities of practitioners may contribute to the gap and the various factors which affect the awareness, adoption and usage of the latest accident analysis theory and methods

• Study 3 - Investigating the extent of the research-practice gap by determining whether the most common analysis method used practitioners embodies the latest theory. This was achieved by using the method and the two leading academic methods to analyse a major train crash and comparing the findings of the analyses

• Study 4 - Gain an insight into the application of an academic analysis method by practitioners, in order to understand whether it met their needs. Six trainee accident investigators took part in an accident investigation simulation and subsequently analysed the data collected during the exercise with the academic method. The outputs of the participants’ analyses were studied along with the evaluation feedback they provided via a questionnaire and focus group

Finally, the findings of all four studies were analysed to understand the need for addressing the research-practice gap and recommendations for doing so, e.g. adaptation of academic methods and increased collaboration between the research and practice communities.