Observation versus Hands-on Practice of Complex Skills in Dyadic, Triadic, and Tetradic Training-Teams

We saved trainer time and resources by reducing hands-on practice in training-team protocols without reducing computer-based learning. During 1-h sessions, young adults learned Space Fortress, a video task that has been employed during pilot training. Observers (Experiment 1) learned more in 3 sessions than did test-only trainees. Individuals, dyads, triads, and tetrads (Experiment 2) learned in 3 sessions with no differences in learning or interaction between learning and protocol. Individuals, dyads, and tetrads (Experiment 3) learned in 10 sessions with no differences in learning or interaction between learning and protocol. As predicted by social learning theory, observational learning seems to compensate for hands-on practice efficiently and effectively. Applications of this research have been developed for computer-based group training of airline and air force pilots.