Quality Control
The FAA facilities are briefing new quality control orders which put an even greater emphasis on self-reporting of errors than the current ATSAP program. The concept is that we're trying to root out the causes of errors rather than assign blame. I wonder, though, if the psychologist B. F. Skinner might say we are putting too much emphasis on rewards (the carrots) and not enough emphasis on the disincentives (the sticks).
My question: which reduces ATC errors more effectivly, collecting data or punishing poorly performing controllers?