Team Situation Awareness, Cohesion, and Autonomic Synchrony

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2024

Publisher

Human Factors and Ergonomics Society

Source Publication

Human Factors

Source ISSN

0018-7208

Original Item ID

DOI: 10.1177/00187208221118301

Abstract

Objective

This study evaluated the causal relationships among situation awareness (SA), cohesion, and autonomic synchrony (SE) within teams. SA is often a team effort and should be more accurate in better-functioning teams.

Background

Cohesive teams perform better overall, although the relationship appears reciprocal; the relationship to SA has not been considered previously. SEis a collective neurocognitive activity that has been connected to team coordination, communication, and performance in some circumstances.

Method

In this experiment, 71 undergraduates, organized into 16 teams, played two matches of a first-person shooter computer game and completed self-report measures of cohesion and SA. SEwas determined through time series analysis of electrodermal responses using the driver-empath framework.

Results

Empaths and those who came from more synchronized teams reported less cohesion in the team. Granger causality regression showed reciprocal relations among SA, SE,and cohesion that were both positive and negative after controlling for match difficulty.

Conclusion

The cohesion-SA relationship is similar to the reciprocal cohesion-performance relationship. SEplays an important and independent role in both the social and cognitive aspects of team behavior. It is possible, furthermore, that individuals who are more attuned to their co-workers reported a more accurate, and less obliging, social situation.

Application

Results are applicable to situations requiring teamwork in a dynamic environment.

Comments

Human Factors, Vol. 66, No. 4 (2024): 1186-1200. DOI.

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