Barnett et al. Startle points: A Proposed Framework for Training Scenarios Startle Points: A Proposed Framework for Identifying Situational Cues, and Developing Realistic Emergency Training Scenarios Jane Barnett, William Wong and David Westley Middlesex University, UK j.barnett@mdx.ac.uk Rick Adderley and Michelle Smith A-E Solutions, UK rickadderley@a-esolutions.com ABSTRACT Real-world crises are not prescriptive and may contain unexpected events, described here as startle points. Including these events in emergency training simulator scenarios is crucial in order to prepare for startle points that may arise in the real world. Startle points occur when individuals who assess and monitor emergency scenarios, are suddenly faced with an unexpected event, and are unsure how to proceed. This paper offers a non- empirical framework that explores how cues generated by startle points affect decision making. Future research will use the framework to explore how experts and novices experience, and then adapt to startle points, as a function of decision mode, situation awareness, and emotional arousal. The resulting data can then be used to identify cues surrounding startle points and as a consequence, create dynamic scenarios for online training simulators so that individuals can prepare and adapt to them, and transfer acquired skills to real-world emergencies. Keywords Startle points, training simulation, decision-making, cognitive interview. INTRODUCTION This paper outlines a research framework that aims to inform the design of emergency scenarios for realistic online training simulations. Our particular interest is to understand the nature and consequences of ‘startle points’ on decision-making processes in crisis situations. Startle points are unexpected events experienced during an emergency situation where the individual freezes for a moment, unsure of what to do next. An understanding of the factors surrounding these events is crucial to the design of simulations that can effectively prepare individuals for real world crisis management (Raybourn, 2006) with regards to unexpected events. This study will preliminarily explore these factors in terms of teams but future research will further explore them in terms of teams. The purpose of this research is to develop a preliminary understanding of how startle points can affect the decision process, and the characteristics of situations that engender such responses. These characteristics can then be embedded in a training simulation in order to prepare emergency services personnel to recognize and adapt to startle points as they occur. To do this, we intend to: (1) Capture the environmental and cognitive cues experienced by emergency decision makers, during, and after experiencing a startle point; and (2) examine how decision-making adaptation processes vary as a function of startle points. This paper presents a brief overview of research that has explored startle points, and factors contributing to effective crisis management responses. We then propose a preliminary research framework that seeks to clarify startle points, identify environmental cues that initiate the startle point, and as a consequence, examine how they may affect decision-making, and subsequent control of the crisis situation. Decision Making and Preliminary Framework of ‘Startle Points’: A Brief Overview Crisis events are not prescriptive, and additional unexpected events may continue to occur even when the situation is thought to be under control. Training simulators provide ideal opportunities to train for crisis Reviewing Statement: This short paper has been fully double-blind peer reviewed for clarity, relevance and significance. Proceedings of the 8 th International ISCRAM Conference – Lisbon, Portugal, May 2011 1