A psychological fidelity approach to simulationbased training

Transfer in terms of skill maintenance and generalization is one of the key challenges in effective training design. Training design for critical military tasks often entails the use of simulations that are high on physical fidelity to minimize skill decrements that impede training transfer. Although this is an effective approach to resolving the transfer problem, it can be costly and inefficient. Moreover, a new wave of advanced training technologies based on a distributed network architecture is emerging. These emerging training technologies will rely on low fidelity synthetic tasks to address the transfer problem. This chapter presents a theoretically based strategy for training research and design that focuses on psychological fidelity--an explicit effort to model underlying psychological constructs and processes responsible for effective performance. Theoretically driven psychological fidelity is essential for enhancing the training to transfer linkage. We argue that a focus on psychological fidelity can leverage the training potential of cost-efficient low fidelity simulations used in distributed training systems, and can enhance the effectiveness of high fidelity simulations as well. The chapter presents the principles of this approach, illustrates their research application, and describes the advantages of explicitly considering psychological fidelity in training research and design