Enhancing Human Performance. Issues, Theories, and Techniques. INSTITUTION National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council, Washington, DC
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 296 127 CE 050 411 AUTHOR Druckman, Daniel, Ed.; Swets, John A., Ed. TITLE Enhancing Human Performance. Issues, Theories, and Techniques. INSTITUTION National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council, Washington, DC. Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education. REPORT NO ISBN-0-309-03787-5 PUB DATE 88 NOTE 306p. AVAILABLE FROMNational Academy Press, 2101 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20418 (Hardcover--ISBN-0-309-03792-1: $32.50; paperbound: $22.50; 5-24 copies: 15% discount; 25-499 copies: 25% discount). vlB TYPE Books (010) -- Reports - Research/Technical (143) EDRS PRICE MF01 Plus Postage. PC Not Available from EDRS. DESCRIPTORS Adult Education; *Cognitive Development; Group Dynamics; Influences; Interpersonal Relationship; *Learning Strategies; *Learning Theories; Motor Development; *Performance; *Psychomotor Skills; *Stress Management IDENTIFIERS Parapsychology ABSTRACT This report describes the activities, findings, and conclusions of a committee that examined the potential value of techniques proposed to enhance human performance. Chapter 1 provides the context for the study and the Army's interest in enhancing performance, characterizes particular techniques, and iT.roduces general issues in evaluating them. Chapter 2 presents findings about the techniques examined and conclusions about appropriate evaluation procedures. Chapter 3 treats the relevant evaluation issues more systematically and presents the committee's philosophy of evaluation. Chapters 4-8 deal with particular techniques but are organized in terms of more general psychological processes. Each chapter attempts to draw on a broader literature concerning the processes being influencedlearning, motor skills, mental states, stress, and social interactions. Chapter 9 considers parapsychological techniques. The report concludes with six appendixes. They (1) briefly summarize the key elements of each enhancement technique, (2) list the 10 papers commissioned by the committee and their authors, (3) list members and activities of the subcommittees and activities of the committee as a whole, (4) list key terms used in the research on particular techniques, (5) discuss application of scientific research by the military, and (6) contain biographical sketches of committee members. (YLB) *********************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the be :t that can be made * * from the original document. * *********************************************************************** EMIR Lc'111111 PEMBINA] Issues, Theories, and Techniques U E DEPARTMENT Of EDUCATION Othce a Educational ROMPerCh and Improvment ED ATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) Ths document nes town reproduced so Iroco,,od from ten pinion or orperwraho originating t. 0 Armor changes Mee bun made to smonaie rtmoduction greedy Points of row Or OfonlOoll *Toted in the dOCIP mint do not necessanly represent MOO OE RI position or poky ar //d "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL IN MICROFICHE ONLY HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." z, lATIONAL RESEAROI COUNCIL a MMHG NOMA9PENMAN Daniel Druckman and John A. Swets, Editors Committee on Techniques for the Enhancement of Human Performance Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education National Research Council NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS Washington, D.C.1988 3 NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS 2101 Constitution Asenue. NW Washington. DC 20418 NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council. whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineenng. and the Institute of Medicine The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropnate balance This report has been reviewed by a group other than the authors according to procedures approved by a Report Review Committee consisting of members of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engmeenng, and the Institute of Medicine The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distiaguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineenng research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863. the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Frank Press is president of the National Academy et' Sciences. The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964. under the chaser of the Nahonal Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organizatior of outstanding engineersIt is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members. shanng with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achieve- ments of engineers. Dr. Robert M. White is president of the National Academy of Engmeenng. The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropnate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional chaser to be an adviser to the federal government and. upon Its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care. research, and ealcation. Dr Samuel 0. Thier is president of the !rv.litute of Medicine. The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy's purposes of furthenng knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become :he principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineenng communities The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Frank Press and Dr Robert M White are chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the National Research Council Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Enhancing human performance : issues, theones, and techniques/ Daniel Druckman and John A Swets, editors. p. cm -Committee on Techniques for the Enhancement of Human Performance, Commission on Beaavioral and Social Sciences and Plication, National Research Council Bibliography: p. Includes incicx ISBN 0-309-03792-1 ISBN 0.309-03787-5 (soft) I. Self-realization--Congresses 2 PerformancePsychological aspectsCongresses IDruckman, Damel, 1939- IISv.ets, John Arthur, 1928- . III. National Research Council (U S I Committee on Techniques for the Enhancement of Human Performance BF637.S4E56 1987 158dc19 87-31233 CIP Copyright © 1988 by the National Academy of Sciences Printed in the United States of America 4 COMMITTEE ON TECHNIQUES FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF HUMAN PERFORMANCE JOHN A. SWETS.Chair,Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge. Mass. ROBERT A. BJORK. Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles THOMAS D. COOK, Department of Psychology, Northwestern University GERALD C. DAVISON. Department of Psychology. University of Southern California LLOYD G. HUMPHREYS. Department of Psychology, University of Illinois RAY HYMAN. Department of Psychology, Unis,ersity of Oregon DANIEL M. LANDERS. Department of Physical Education, Arizona State University SANDRA A. MOBLEY, Director of Training and Development, The Wyatt Company, Washington, D.C. LYMAN W. PORTER. Graduate School of Management, University of California, Irvine MICHAEL I. POSNER. Department of Neurology, Washington University WALTER SCHNEIDER. Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh JEROME E. SINGER. Department of Medical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md. SALLY P. SPRINGER. Department of Psychology. State University of New York, Stony Brook RICHARD F. THOMPSON. Department of Psychology. Stanford University DANIEL DRUCKMAN.Study Director JULIE A. K RAMAN.Administrative Secretary Contents PREFACE vii I OVERVIEW 1 1 Introduction 3 2Findings and Conclusions 15 3 Evaluation Issues 24 IIPSYCHOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES 37 4Learning 39 5 Improving Motor Skills 61 6Altering Mental States 102 7Stress Management 115 8Social Processes 133 HIP.' RAPSYCHOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES 167 9Paranormal Phenomena 169 REFERENCES 209 APPENDIXES 233 A Summary of Techniques: Theory, Research, and Applications 235 B Background Papers 246 C Committee Activities 248 v 6 ,1 l'i CONMN1S D Key Terms 252 EMilitary Applications of Scientific Information 262 FBiographical Sketches 282 INDEX 289 7 Preface The Army Research Institute in 1984 asked the National Academy of Sciences to form a committee to examine the potential value o. certain techniques that had been proposed to enhance human performance. As a class, these techniques were viewed as extraordinary, in that they were developed outside the mainstream of the human sciences and were presented with strong claims for high effectiveness. The committee was also to recommend general policy and criteria for