Skill Decay : A Comparative Assessment of Training Protocols and Individual Differences in the Loss and Reacquisition of Complex Skills

It has been consistently demonstrated that the active interlocked modeling (AIM) protocol, a dyadic training protocol developed by Shebilske, Regian, Arthur, and Jordan (1992), achieves a 100% increase in training efficiency over a control individual-trainee based condition. The purpose of the present study was to replicate this finding as well as to investigate its robustness in terms of skill loss and reacquisition. Thus, we compared the AIM- dyad training protocol to a standard individual protocol regarding the acquisition of a complex skill (i.e., Space Fortress: cf Mane & Donchin 1989). More importantly, skill loss after an 8-week non-practice interval and skill re- acquisition was also investigated. Despite half as much hands-on practice, the performance of dyadic trainees did not differ from that of individuals on tests of skill acquisition. loss and re-acquisition. These findings provide strong support and justification for the ongoing use of innovative dyadic protocols for the training of pilots and navigators in both military an non-military settings.Air Force Research Lab Mesa Az Human Effectiveness Directorate is the author of 'Skill Decay : A Comparative Assessment of Training Protocols and Individual Differences in the Loss and Reacquisition of Complex Skills', published 2002 under ISBN 9781423501756 and ISBN 1423501756.