Episode #4: Interview with Jennifer Phillips

Date: 5/1/2020 Show Description: “Today we welcome our pal, Jennifer Phillips. Jenni is the CEO of the Cognitive Performance Group, which she cofounded in 2006. Her work focuses expert decision-making, primarily in the military training community. She and her colleagues at CPG have pioneered research into the development of skilled performance, and designed innovation in the areas of decision-centered training and assessment, including the development and application of mastery models. Among her many publications is a chapter in the Oxford Handbook of Expertise exploring mastery models and their value in supporting the acquisition and assessment of expertise.” Learn More About Jenni: Cognitive Performance Group Developing Mastery Models to Support the Acquisition and Assessment of Expertise Learn more about NDM: NaturalisticDecisionMaking.org Journal of Cognitive Engineering and Decision Making Where to find hosts Brian Moon and Laura Militello: Brian’s website Brian’s LinkedIn Brian’s Twitter Laura’s website Laura’s LinkedIn Laura’s Twitter Timestamps: Jenny describes her focus of expertise, including tactical thinking in the marine corps and mastery models [1:30] Jenni breaks down the term “mastery model” and its stages [3:45] Jenni gives a mastery model example from her work with marine corps instructors [6:05] Work on assessment of decision skills, performance rubrics, and the process of adaptability [9:50] Major influences in Jenni’s career in NDM [14:05] Other people and organizations outside the NDM community who have impacted Jenni’s work [16:30] What makes Jenni’s approach and expertise unique in her field [19:15] Challenges and nuances of working in a military environment [21:30] Difficulty getting buy-in to conduct research in law enforcement [23:45] A favorite anecdote from research in IED defeat work [24:45] Some distinct and difficult nuances of IED defeat work in Afghanistan and Iraq  [29:45] Meaning and application of “cognitive fidelity” [32:50] A surprising characteristic of young researchers [35:20] One single question that can determine if someone is an NDM practitioner [39:05] Two truths and a lie [39:45] Excitement about research on making mastery models work at a large scale [42:10]