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The COVID-19 pandemic affected many areas of public life and industry. This also applies to research particularly that relies on scientific studies with test persons. In order to minimize the risk of infection, several aspects of experiment design including the setting might require alteration. An extensive review of the latest research involving the COVID-19 pandemic as a blueprint for dealing with other health situations has been conducted in order to develop a step-by-step approach to plan a study with regard to infection protection. As a result, a generic six-step concept was developed that is applicable for scientific studies in both stationary rooms and vehicles while being adaptable to the respective circumstances. The infection protection measures determined through research were implemented in the individual sub-steps from study planning to execution. They allow a step-by-step approach to prevent infections in scientific studies with different settings during a pandemic and in situations where increased hygiene measures are required.

X-Ray screening of passenger bags is an essential component of airport security. Large investments into technology have been made in recent years. However, the most expensive equipment is of limited value, if th humans who operate it are not selected and trained appropriately. Scientific studies have shown that human performance in x-ray image interpretation depends critically on individual abilities and visual knowledge acquired through experience on the job and training. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of adaptive computer-based training for increasing the detection of guns, knives, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and other prohibited items. 97 airport security screeners of a European airport participated in this study. At the beginning of the project, all airport security screeners conducted the X-Ray Competency Assessment Test (X-Ray CAT). Thereupon they received adaptive computer-based training (CBT) for about 4 months. Then they conducted the X-Ray CAT the second time in the middle of the project. This was followed by about 4 months of CBT and a third test with X-Ray CAT at the end of the project. The goal was that each screener conducts at least one 20 minute training session per week. Substantial increases of detection performance were found as a result of training, which depended on the threat category (guns, IEDs, knives and other prohibited items). The largest training effects were found for IEDs. Additional analyses showed that training not only leads to an increase of detection performance but also results in faster response times when an x-ray image contains a threat object. Thus, recurrent CBT can be a powerful tool to increase efficiency in x-ray image interpretation by airport security screeners.

X-Ray screening of passenger bags is an essential component of airport security. Large investments into technology have been made in recent years. However, the most expensive equipment is of limited value, if th humans who operate it are not selected and trained appropriately. Scientific studies have shown that human performance in x-ray image interpretation depends critically on individual abilities and visual knowledge acquired through experience on the job and training. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of adaptive computer-based training for increasing the detection of guns, knives, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and other prohibited items. 97 airport security screeners of a European airport participated in this study. At the beginning of the project, all airport security screeners conducted the X-Ray Competency Assessment Test (X-Ray CAT). Thereupon they received adaptive computer-based training (CBT) for about 4 months. Then they conducted the X-Ray CAT the second time in the middle of the project. This was followed by about 4 months of CBT and a third test with X-Ray CAT at the end of the project. The goal was that each screener conducts at least one 20 minute training session per week. Substantial increases of detection performance were found as a result of training, which depended on the threat category (guns, IEDs, knives and other prohibited items). The largest training effects were found for IEDs. Additional analyses showed that training not only leads to an increase of detection performance but also results in faster response times when an x-ray image contains a threat object. Thus, recurrent CBT can be a powerful tool to increase efficiency in x-ray image interpretation by airport security screeners.