The University of Arizona was awarded a $392,612 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) to study belief formation in systems engineering verification strategies and evaluation of verification evidence. The award period is from October 1, 2021 through July 31, 2024.
Through this funding, the University will conduct research into how engineers develop beliefs during the verification of complex systems and identify patterns that allow engineers to better capture their beliefs in documentation artifacts. Explanatory models of belief formation will be established by combining empirical observations with Bayesian analysis, belief graphs, and decision theory. Cognitive mapping will also be used to elicit engineers' belief structures. Additionally, the University will implement novel educational approaches to help middle school and undergraduate students recognize the subjective nature of problem-solving in engineering contexts. This includes a digital game to model word problems and expose undergraduates to open-ended, iterative solution-verification problems in multiple courses. The research and education efforts aim to improve systems engineering verification strategies and rigor in evaluating verification evidence.