Stress Appraisals and Training Performance on a Complex Laboratory Team Task

Stress appraisal research indicated that those who were challenged by a task outperform those who were threatened by a task. Potential effects of two levels of stress appraisal (Challange-Threat) on training performance were evaluated. Participants were trained on the Dynamic Distributed Decision-making (DDD) task, which models an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) team at a level that a college student can learn within 8 hours. Scenarios were developed for the DDD task that would allow the measurement of team helping behaviors. A significant main effect of stress appraisal was found for both mission outcome measures and for team process measures. These findings pave the way for scientists to increase understanding of stress appraisals and team training as well as for trainers to improve training.