Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis for Military Tactics Instruction
This experiment determined how 19 Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets rationalize military tactics decisions using two different displays through qualitative data analysis. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to understan
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Abstract This experiment determined how 19 Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets rationalize military tactics decisions using two different displays through qualitative data analysis. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to understand platoon and squad level decision-making to help influence the development of adaptive training systems. IPA is a process through which the participant experience is analyzed through a dual interpretation methodology, where participants provide meaning of their world, followed by an empirical assessment to categorize and define the participants’ perspectives of their experiences. The tactical questions covered topics that would typically be covered in a military science junior level class. Results include the importance of terrain elevation differences between friendly and enemy forces, as well as the importance of cover and concealment and distance. The findings from this experiment are currently being developed into a large scale assessment in collaboration with the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Keywords Interpretative phenomenological analysis Military population Qualitative research Experiential learning Decision-making
1 Introduction Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) is a qualitative research approach that explores an experience from the participant’s perspective [1]. Although much of the work using IPA has occurred within in the healthcare domain [2], performing M.W. Boyce (&) D. Cruz R. Sottilare Army Research Laboratory, 12423 Research Parkway, Orlando, FL 32826, USA e-mail: [email protected] D. Cruz e-mail: [email protected] R. Sottilare e-mail: [email protected] © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2017 J.I. Kantola et al. (eds.), Advances in Human Factors, Business Management, Training and Education, Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing 498, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-42070-7_58
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a detailed analysis of someone’s experience can be valuable in an applied setting such as military tactics decision-making. Military decisions are often characterized by complex environments and parameters, and the ability to understand how individuals process information within these environments is beneficial [3]. IPA attempts to replicate the participant’s sense-making processes, considering both context and social factors important to the participant. Smith [4] developed IPA as a qualitative research approach, consisting of a combination of three philosophical approaches: phenomenology (identifying the distinguishable aspects of an experience), hermeneutics (an attempt to view the experience from the perspective of the participant and understand why it is meaningful to them), and idiography (the focus of detailed analysis of each individual case before expanding to overarching statements) [5, 6]. This research project focused on developing a qualitative understanding of the experiences of a group of Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets
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