A STUDY OF A PROBLEM IN TACTICAL JUDGMENT,
Abstract
When given the same instructions (equal emphasis on speed and accuracy), experienced radar operators took longer to make their decisions, that is, they used longer target paths, than did the inexperienced ones. When additional emphasis was placed on speed of action, the experienced radar operators reduced significantly the length of path on which they based their decisions without any accompanying increase in errors. The inexperienced operators failed to take action on more targets than did the experienced operators. Even after considerable familiarity with the patterns of the raids, the inexperienced operators apparently still found the action a bit too fast. Both experienced and inexperienced operators had lower error percentages for incorrect action under the free-choice conditions of the present study than they did in the controlled-choice situation of a previous experiment employing the same problem materials. On valid targets (those intersecting a given criterion circle), experienced operators made error percentages varying from about 15-20 percent, for courses very close to the criterion circle, to zero for courses that were very nearly radial. On invalid targets, error percentages varied from 60-75 percent, for courses very close to the criterion circle, to about 18 percent for those well outside the criterion circle. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 18, 1960
- Accession Number
- AD0627402
Entities
People
- R. M. Hanes
Organizations
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory