Item: Social – A Group Check Tool
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Title: Social – A Group Check Tool
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop 2014 Proceedings, Banff, Canada
Authors:
- Benjamin Zweifel [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]
Date: 2014-09-29
Abstract: Despite the fact that recreationists in avalanche terrain usually travel in groups empirical research on group phenomena is still sparse. We propose a group check tool based on relevant literature from avalanche safety research but also on existing concepts from sociology and social psychology. Important additional input on content and form of the tool was given by a focus group discussion of the Swiss Snow Sport Avalanche Accident Prevention core training team. The resulting group check tool SOCIAL summarizes the most important group factors: Skills of group members should be in accordance with the demand of the trip; Organization should set course for basic group characteristics such as group size and roles of group members; Communication is THE instrument enhancing group performance; Identification of group members with trip goals, expectations and decisions taken; one should always screen for Anomalies in group behavior like risky shift or heuristic traps; and finally one should critically question Leadership issues. In analogy to established support tools concerning avalanche risk we assume SOCIAL to reduce the risk of unwanted group effects.
Object ID: ISSW14_paper_P3.23.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s):
Keywords: human factors, group dynamics, group check tool, avalanche prevention
Page Number(s): 1007-1013
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