Effects of Expertise and Cognitive Style on Information Use in Tactical Decision Making

摘要

The objective of the research was to investigate the effects of individual differences in expertise and cognitive style on information use in a tactical decision making problem. Researchers also evaluated the effectiveness of decision making research involving automated information presentation and response recording. Expertise was varied by using eight lieutenant colonels (instructors) and eight majors (students) as participants. Cognitive style was measured with an individually administered Embedded Figures Test. Participants were each given two tactical problems to solve involving the development of a concept of operation for an offensive and defensive mission. The information available to them was typical of that available at a division command post except that it was presented by a computer system. The system automatically recorded what information the subject viewed and how he used the information to construct his order. (KR)