PLATT: a flexible platform for experimental research on team performance in complex environments.
The present article introduces PLATT, a recently developed task environment for controlled experimental research on team performance in complex environments. PLATT was developed to meet the research demands posed by the complexity that present-day teams face. It consists of a flexible, modular software architecture and research-specific scenarios. The scenarios can target various types of tasks (e.g., planning, problem solving, and decision making) in different operational contexts. Different software configurations can be used to investigate questions pertaining to team structure, team virtuality, and multiteam systems. We describe the software architecture, one of the scenarios, and the broad range of automated and embedded measurement possibilities that PLATT offers. To illustrate PLATT's possibilities, in the present article, we describe a number of experiments that have used PLATT for a variety of research questions. We conclude that PLATT meets the formulated research demands and provides researchers with a flexible platform to investigate the complex issues that present-day teams face.
Kamphuis
Wim
W
TNO Defence, Security and Safety, Soesterberg, The Netherlands. wim.kamphuis@tno.nl
Essens
Peter J M D
PJ
Houttuin
Kees
K
Gaillard
Anthony W K
AW
D003142:Communication; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003199:Computer Systems; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011340:Problem Solving; D012984:Software; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013534:Survival; D014584:User-Computer Interface