Accession Number:

AD0288878

Title:

TACTICAL DECISION MAKING: 2. THE EFFECTS OF THREATENING WEAPON PERFORMANCE AND UNCERTAINTY OF INFORMATION DISPLAYED TO THE DECISION MAKER ON THREAT EVALUATION AND ACTION SELECTION

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

AIR FORCE CAMBRIDGE RESEARCH LABS HANSCOM AFB MA

Personal Author(s):

• CONNOLLY, DONALD W.
• FOX, WYATT R.
• MCGOLDRICK, CHARLES C.

Report Date:

1961-12-01

Pagination or Media Count:

88.0

Abstract:

An experiment was performed in which five highly experienced subjects were required to perform threat evaluation and action selection functions under aerospace surveillance loads of from 60 to 96 incoming tracks. The most generally influential condition was task load, increases in which caused increased weapon consumption, and increasing but negatively accelerated rate of kill of threats, increasing and positively accelerating amounts of damage and increased reaction time. The load build-up rate beyond which commanders began to lag behind in the selection of counter actions was found to be of the order of 5-6 tracks per minute. The performance level of the incoming threat did not produce clear-cut evidence of effects upon the commanders success at their tasks. Tracks whose position and identifying descriptive data were 50 - 60 complete and correct were handled in about the same way as tracks represented by perfect information.

Descriptors:

• *DECISION MAKING
• *OFFICER PERSONNEL
• ACCELERATION
• AEROSPACE SYSTEMS
• CONSUMPTION
• DAMAGE
• DELAY
• DISPLAY SYSTEMS
• FUNCTIONS
• MILITARY COMMANDERS
• PERCEPTION
• PERFORMANCE(ENGINEERING)
• POSITION(LOCATION)
• RATES
• REACTION TIME
• REFLEXES
• SELECTION
• SPACE SURVEILLANCE
• SURVEILLANCE
• TACTICAL ANALYSIS
• THREAT EVALUATION
• THREATS
• UNCERTAINTY
• WEAPONS

Subject Categories:

• Administration and Management

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE