Making sense of chaos: Decision making by high- and low-experience rugby referees.

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis research was to investigate the decision making of rugby referees. Based on past research, concepts felt to be important in this task were anticipation, and knowledge base. To investigate these features for referees, the expertise paradigm was incorporated. Thus, 12 high and 12 low experience referees were asked to evaluate clips of videotaped rugby footage for infractions. Participants were asked to anticipate upcoming actions and calls, and their ability to detect infractions was measured along with voice reaction time (VRT). In addition, referees were asked questions related to their knowledge bases, and the information sources from which they drew in performing this task. The responses to the videotaped plays were analysed using signal detection theory (Macmillan & Creelman, 1991) and revealed no significant group differences. Further, a two-way analysis of variance performed using the information sources data revealed significant differences between the high and low experience referee groups. Further sections discuss data collected on anticipation, VRT, and another measure of knowledge, that were eventually eliminated from the study. This and other related features led to a final section describing common characteristics and defining characteristics for the general population of sport monitors.