Methodology to Determine Factors for Selecting Training Scenarios in Virtual andConstructive Simulations

摘要

This research develops and demonstrates the use of a Preference-Characteristicmethodology to select between scenarios for the purpose of training a unit in a virtual or constructive environment. The methodology proved successful though additional research will be required before the tool can become fully operational. The effort to exploit the potential of simulation for improving task proficiency began in the early 1970's. Technology at the time limited most efforts to improvements in live simulation training. In 1973 the Constructive Tactical Engagement System (TES) was the first Army organizational computer based simulation training device. The advancement in technology and the successful use of these initial training tools lead to the expansion of simulation training devices. Along with the explosion of computer based simulations was an order of magnitude explosion in the number of training scenarios. The number of scenarios became so unwieldy that numerous governmental review boards recommended that efforts be made to catalog them and place them in libraries. To solve this problem the Army developed exercise development tools to serve the diverse training population. This research effort refines that process. The geographic dispersion of the users and limited resources mandated the use of a survey as a collection tool. The survey was conducted in two phases: (1) an informal pilot phase used to develop and refine the survey instrument along with analysis techniques and (2) a formal pilot test where members of the targeted populations were solicited for their responses. Two types of statistical analysis were applied to the data, mean based and frequency based.