Blended Police Firearms Training Improves Performance
Author Information
Author(s): Olma Joshua, Sutter Christine, Sülzenbrück Sandra
Primary Institution: Institute of Traffic and Engineering Psychology, German Police University
Hypothesis
Will individual video-based intervention training improve police cadets' performance in shoot/don't shoot scenarios?
Conclusion
The study found that blended training significantly improved police cadets' response times and accuracy in dynamic shooting scenarios.
Supporting Evidence
- The intervention group significantly improved their response time and time until the first hit.
- False positive decision-making was eliminated after training.
- Both groups performed close to maximum performance levels in the pre-test.
Takeaway
This study shows that special training can help police cadets make better and faster decisions when they have to decide whether to shoot or not.
Methodology
The study used a pre- and post-test design with 52 police cadets, comparing an intervention group receiving blended training to a control group receiving traditional training.
Potential Biases
Potential biases in self-reported proficiency and the homogeneity of the sample may affect the results.
Limitations
The study's findings may not generalize to real-life high-stress situations due to the controlled environment of the training.
Participant Demographics
52 second-year police cadets (21 female, 31 male) with a mean age of 23 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p=0.024 for Hit Factor improvement
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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