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Team training in the skies: does crew resource management (CRM) training work?
E Salas1, C S Burke, C A Bowers
1Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida, Orlando 32816-1350, USA. esalas@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu
Human Factors
|May 11, 2002
Summary
Crew Resource Management (CRM) training in aviation shows positive reactions and learning, but its impact on safety remains unproven. More rigorous, multilevel evaluations are needed to determine true effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Aviation Psychology
- Organizational Behavior
- Training Evaluation
Background:
- The aviation industry heavily invests in Crew Resource Management (CRM) training.
- Evaluating the effectiveness of CRM training is crucial for safety and operational improvements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review published accounts of CRM training effectiveness in aviation.
- To assess the extent to which CRM training impacts organizational outcomes, particularly safety.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of 58 published studies on CRM training.
- Application of D. L. Kirkpatrick's (1976) training evaluation framework.
Main Results:
- CRM training generally yields positive participant reactions and enhanced learning.
- Behavioral changes are often observed following CRM training.
- Evidence linking CRM training to improved organizational safety (bottom line) is inconclusive.
Conclusions:
- Current evaluations of CRM training are often insufficient, lacking multilevel data.
- There is a critical need for systematic, multilevel evaluations to ascertain the true impact of CRM training on aviation safety.
- Future research should prioritize comprehensive evaluation methodologies to demonstrate CRM's ultimate effectiveness.
