Hugh, if you want to find authoratative research on checklist design, I suggest you search for work by Degani: an acknowledged expert. One of his paperes is here (quick google, but the source document will be on the NASA site):
http://members.aol.com/DreamSmyth/De..._Checklist.pdf
I think one of the key areas to look at, as you try and design your checklist, is to avoid making it a 'do list' and try to make it a confirmatory check. North Sea checklists have evolved into "flying the AS332 for dummies" manuscripts and would be viewed wth amazement by most FW pilots. (it's one of my pet subjects!)
NASA talk about "Killer items" and I truly belive that's the way to go, rather than mixing them up with "admin" items that really ought to be SOP driven (or worse still, knee jerk, oil company driven "response to past incidents" items!)
I can send you extracts from various FW FCOMS by e-mail, if you are interested, to show the operating philosophies of Boeing and Airbus.