A small mind numbingly nerdy point tuc, but........
"That the analysis of the “Farnborough scientists” (i.e. the AAIB)"
Probably refers to the learned gentlemen from the then RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine (IAM) not the AAIB. The IAM, which included aviation Human Factors specialists and Psychologists amongst its numbers, was based at Farnborough at the time. I think I'm correct in saying that the AAIB may also have called upon the services of the IAM from time to time, particularly in the case of RAF accidents. The IAM ended up ultimately as part of the QinetiQ empire and the closest MoD equivalent now is the boys and girls of the RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine (RAFCAM).
The good and the great of the AAIB are either operators or engineers and would probably take umbrage (particularly Tony Cable!) at being labelled 'scientists'
Apologies, back to my collection of rivet rubbings now.