Implementing Measures of Individual and Collective Hypothesis Generation: A Users Guide
Abstract
The goal of this research was to understand how Soldiers use heuristics when generating hypotheses to explain threat risk in operational environments and to develop a measure of cognitive processes leaders/trainers could use to evaluate Soldiers performance during training for those environments. To translate the findings for training and evaluation purposes, we conducted focus groups with squad level Soldiers and leaders. Our purpose was to elicit feedback that would identify gaps in training and possible applications for measures of decision-making in training to detect/assess threats. We conducted 12 focus groups, each with 3-5 Infantry squad members and leaders and/or platoon sergeants. Several themes emerged: current approaches, gaps and needs, implementation strategies, hurdles and pitfalls, and potential benefits. A frequent challenge was training evaluations can be too subjective and differ, sometimes significantly, across trainers with different experiences and biases. Measures must be developed that reduce subjectivity and also increase reliability in scoring relevant behaviors. Based on Soldier guidance, we developed an implementation strategy for small teams, including an option for how leaders could integrate an assessment and adapt it to different tasks, an assessment leaders could use to score Soldier performance, and an exercise trainers could use to incorporate the assessment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1055115
Entities
People
- Christopher L. Vowels
- Drew L. Leins
- Jim Leonard
Organizations
- Applied Research Associates (United States)