Chapter 6: Expert Intuition and Naturalistic Decision Making
Gary Klein The topic of intuition is strongly connected to the naturalistic decision making (NDM) framework, which is why the following chapter is included in the current volume. The NDM framework has emphasized the way people build expertise and apply it to cognitive functions such as judgment and decision making. Expertise depends on different forms of knowledge. Explicit knowledge (knowledge of facts and rules) is the easiest form to describe, teach and track, but is less important than tacit knowledge. Tacit knowledge includes perceptual abilities, pattern recognition, judgments of typicality, and mental models. When skilled decision makers use their tacit knowledge they usually cannot articulate the basis of their judgments and decisions. Tacit knowledge is, by definition, difficult if not impossible to articulate. Therefore, we experience the use of tacit knowledge as intuition. We notice something jarring, or recognize a pattern, and we do not know where these judgments come from so they seem mysterious, as opposed to a logical conclusion based on a deliberated line of reasoning. Klein (2009) uses the example of making a turn against oncoming traffic. There are no rules for judging when to make the turn; with experience we have learned to recognize safe versus unsafe conditions. And this is a difficult judgment. People occasionally get it wrong, as we see when we maneuver around the damaged cars. Thus, every day we make life-and-death decisions using our intuition. Intuition, in the form of tacit knowledge, is essential to expertise, and is central to the kinds...
You are not authenticated to view the full text of this chapter or article.
Elgaronline requires a subscription or purchase to access the full text of books or journals. Please login through your library system or with your personal username and password on the homepage.
Non-subscribers can freely search the site, view abstracts/ extracts and download selected front matter and introductory chapters for personal use.
Your library may not have purchased all subject areas. If you are authenticated and think you should have access to this title, please contact your librarian.