Work on Detection and Recovery

Discussing a mechanism by which an error is produced does not constitute an analysis of the error, far from it. The error only becomes a problem as a result of its consequences. Early error detection and recovery from errors before they have consequences form the very heart of risk management. 

These types of error detection and error recovery are particularly effective in humans. 

Hayes and Flower [13] were the first to take an interest in the ability of editors to detect spelling and syntax errors. They identified two separate mechanisms (1) intentional detection when re-reading (editing) and (2) iterative detection during writing (reviewing), which is far more effective. 

These early studies concluded that there are four families of error detection strategies  

The strategy that detects the largest number of errors by volume is direct-error-hypothesis formation , followed in order of effectiveness by error-suspicion , affirmative evaluation and a long way behind standard check , which corresponds to the type of checking methods learned at school. 

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