EXPERT PERFORMANCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT: ARE SKILLEDPERFORMERS MORE EFFECTIVELY CONSTRAINING THESITUATION TO RESOLVE REPRESENTATIVE DYNAMIC TASKSTHAN NOVICES?

摘要

Ericsson and Kintsch (1995) suggested that long-term working memory (LTWM) allowsskilled performers to predict the occurrence and consequence of future events andanticipate future retrieval demands. Traditional domains of expertise, such as typing andtext comprehension, have been used to provide evidence for mechanisms that permit suchbehaviors. Real-world tasks are more dynamic and challenging, particularly whenperformed under time-pressure. We examined skilled and less-skilled law enforcementofficers in a simulated task environment. Performance measures (e.g., un-holstering,aiming, and firing a weapon) were used to test LTWM theory and participants’comprehension of the situation by assessing the consistency between actions currentlybeing performed and the situation outcome. These data provided evidence that skilledofficers make predictive inferences, anticipate future events, and rely upon informationbeyond that which is available in the current scenario.