Individual differences in personality factors as predictors of performance and situation awareness in Stealth Adapt simulated search and rescue missions

Abstract

The present study empirically examined personality factors as predictors of participants’ performance in a simulated search and rescue (SAR) task. Thirty-eight participants completed the IPIP-300 before completing nine simulated SAR, unmanned aerial system (UAS) missions. A game-based task (Stealth Adapt) simulated these missions, and recorded participants’ scores. It was hypothesized that extraversion and neuroticism predict performance and situation awareness. It was also hypothesized that there are gender differences in the outcome variables. Controlling for gender, results showed no significant correlations between the personality factors and outcome variables, and regression analyses were not significant. Results showed significant correlations between the personality factors and gender-separated performance; however, only the regression model for the personality factors on male performance was significant. There were no significant correlations between the personality factors and situation awareness for either gender group. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed, and future directions for research are also presented.