Skill Retention and Its Implications for Navy Tasks: An Analytical Review.

摘要

A review of relevant research literature was conducted to identify probable variables contributing to skill loss in the Navy. Findings were grouped into five categories--personnel characteristics, task variables, training factors, job conditions, and retraining factors. One of the most important causes of skill deterioration is nonuse. This can occur when there are infrequent opportunities to practice or perform a skill or when feedback is absent or inadequate. The most important retention variable is the amount of learning required before nonuse. This learning is influenced by ability level, task complexity, quality of practice, and feedback conditions. In addition to these variables and the recall conditions, skill deterioration is controlled by the length of the nonutilization period. Retraining can be quickly achieved by a variety of methods; it is affected by the same variables as initial learning. Difficulties of identifying and evaluating skill losses in the Navy, and indirect methods for assessing or predicting skill deterioration, were discussed. (Author)