Abstract

In dynamic situations such as sports, athletes use environmental information to compare the current situation with similar situations in the past. On the basis of this experience a recognized option will be generated and chosen [1]. We evaluated decision making in team handball by tracking the eye movements of participants during the decision-making process. We performed two studies using the same sample that differed in the format of visual presentation. In Study 1 we presented different offensive scenes on a virtual tactic board via a computer screen. In Study 2, the participants watched real decision-making situations in a large video projection on a wall. The same participants took part in both studies (i.e., experienced both formats). The studies were intended to extend previous research on the take-the-first heuristic (limited cue use and limited option generation). An option-generation paradigm was used to measure choice behavior in participants with high and low expertise levels. Results of Study 1 showed that all participants produced nearly the same gaze behavior but experts generated options with a higher probability of success. In Study 2 we conceptually validated the effect in more complex situations. Benefits of that information search and choice behavior are explained based on a simple heuristics approach, and practical recommendations are provided. Verf.-Referat