Cognitive Integration: A Study of how Decision Makers Construct Understanding in Evolving Contexts

Technology provides military decision makers with more data than they can possibly use. Commanders and staffs must sort through and combine relevant data to develop understanding. This process, which we call cognitive integration, was investigated in a tactical simulation using 21 experienced active duty Army officers (former battalion commanders) and 21 novice officers (no battalion command experience) as participants. Quantitative and qualitative data yielded significant differences between the experienced and novice groups. In addition, data analysis led to the development of several important design principles that will be used to build a decision aid prototype to assist commanders in integrating data.