Current military doctrine is primarily hierarchical in nature with respect to power and authority. The "Functional Concept of Battlespace Awareness" (FCBA) is a military sensor methodology that employs a hierarchical command structure to test emerging technologies. Asymmetric warfare, however, demands a faster and more adaptive warfighting mentality that distributes power and responsibility across more of our forces; particularly those that are at the frontlines of the battlefield. "Power to the Edge" is a warfighting methodology that emphasizes a departure from traditional military hierarchies and a transition into a configuration that empowers "Edge" actors with information and authority. This thesis will prove that "Power to the Edge" doctrine is a more effective way to fight the enemies we will likely face in the Information Age. By analyzing and interpreting data collected at the Extended Awareness II and Extended Awareness IIB experiments, this thesis will show that transition in our current command and control methodology will be necessary to keep up with a changing enemy.

This study explores the differential validity of SJT responding formats (i.e., selecting a response to an SJT item). It was hypothesized that the SJT on which respondents identified the best and worst options would be related to cognitive ability because this type of SJT has a high cognitive load and thus acts like a knowledge test. It was also hypothesized that the SJT on which respondents rated the effectiveness of each option on a Likert scale would be related to personality because it taps into test taker?s behavioral tendencies. Results show that the best-and-worst SJT was not related to measures of education (a proxy for cognitive ability) or measures of personality. The SJT on which respondents rated the effectiveness of each option on a Likert scale was related to measures of personality but not education. Finally, because the Likert SJT has a greater number of responses, it was rescored as following the best-and-worst SJT keying. This converted SJT was related to neither measures of education nor measures of personality. The choose best-and-worst SJT significantly predicted performance, while the Likert SJT and a Likert SJT converted to a best-and-worst SJT did not predict performance.

In this thesis, we propose a high level design for connectivity visualization of OLSRbased MANET topology based on local topology databases available in an OLSR node. Two different scenarios are considered: a central (full view) topology from a command and control location, or a nodal (partial) view from an ad-hoc node. A simulation-based analysis is conducted to calculate total number of active links at a particular time in full and nodal topology views. Also the error rate of network topology discovery based on total undiscovered link both mobile and static scenario is considered and reported. We also come up with an analytical model to analyse the network bandwidth and overhead of using TC, HELLO and custom NIM message to evaluate the performance of centralized visualization to build full map of the network with respect to situational awareness system. This thesis also presents a multi-node, 2-dimensional, distributed technique for coarse (approximate) localization of the nodes in a tactical mobile ad hoc network. The objective of this work is to provide coarse localization information based on layer-3 connectivity information and a few anchor nodes or landmarks, and without using traditional methods such as signal strength, Time of Arrival (ToA) or distance information. We propose a localization algorithm based on a Force-directed method that will allow us to estimate the approximate location of each node based on network topology information from a local OLSR database. We assume the majority of nodes are not equipped with GPS and thus do not have their exact location information. In our proposed approach we make use of the possible existence of known landmarks as reference points to enhance the accuracy of localization. / UOIT

The purpose of this thesis is to analyze a non-intrusive connectivity visualization method for OLSR-based MANET topology in different mobility models. The visualization relies on the local topology databases (neighborhood database and topology database) available in OLSR nodes in the network. Two different views are considered in this method: central view and nodal view. In the central view, the network topology is viewed from a control center which has access to the databases of all nodes, while on the other hand, the nodal visualization provides a picture of the network topology from individual nodes point of view. In this thesis, the full view of the network has been compared to the nodal view to calculate the error rate for topology discovery, based on the total numbers of active and undiscovered links. The main contribution of this thesis is to analyze and improve the accuracy of coarse localization techniques under different mobility models, using the Force-directed algorithm to calculate the approximate location of the nodes. The localization information was gathered from layer-3 connectivity, utilizing anchor nodes that are equipped with GPS and other non-GPS nodes instead of using traditional methods that include received signal strength, time of arrival and angle of arrival. The approximate location information of the nodes derived from this technique has been compared with original node location in order to determine the accuracy of this technique. To improve the accuracy, several mobility prediction filters such as moving average filter, Kalman filter and low pass filter have been applied to the approximate location data. The simulation is done to calculate the error between the original location data and the coarse approximations, and the results shows that Moving Average provides the best results. / UOIT

This study explores the differential validity of SJT responding formats (i.e., selecting a response to an SJT item). It was hypothesized that the SJT on which respondents identified the best and worst options would be related to cognitive ability because this type of SJT has a high cognitive load and thus acts like a knowledge test. It was also hypothesized that the SJT on which respondents rated the effectiveness of each option on a Likert scale would be related to personality because it taps into test taker?s behavioral tendencies. Results show that the best-and-worst SJT was not related to measures of education (a proxy for cognitive ability) or measures of personality. The SJT on which respondents rated the effectiveness of each option on a Likert scale was related to measures of personality but not education. Finally, because the Likert SJT has a greater number of responses, it was rescored as following the best-and-worst SJT keying. This converted SJT was related to neither measures of education nor measures of personality. The choose best-and-worst SJT significantly predicted performance, while the Likert SJT and a Likert SJT converted to a best-and-worst SJT did not predict performance.

Thesis (M.S. in Modeling, Virtual Environments, and Simulation (MOVES))--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2009. / Thesis Advisor(s): Becker, William. "June 2009." Description based on title screen as viewed on July 10, 2009. Author(s) subject terms: Aviation, Haptics, Human Factors, Modeling and Simulation, Situational Awareness, Telepresence, Virtual Environments, Human Computer Interface. Includes bibliographical references (p. 55-57). Also available in print.

Cognitive behavior theory indicates that situational determinants may have a substantial impact on substance use and relapse into use. The present study described situational use of marijuana in dependent individuals, analyzed relationships among various constructs in existing theory, determined their effects on treatment outcomes, and explored interactions with self-efficacy. Results were generally consistent with hypotheses. Use in negative affective situations was independently associated with psychological distress, maladaptive coping strategies, and poorer outcomes post-treatment. Additionally, negative affective use interacted with self-efficacy for psychologically distressing situations to produce differential outcomes. This study adds to the existing literature on situational marijuana use by establishing relationships with motives for use and lending support to the cognitive behavioral theory model. / Master of Science

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Psychology / Ronald G. Downey / Entrepreneurship represents an important path to job creation, product development and organizational competitive advantage. Therefore, the identification and retention of entrepreneurial talent is of primary importance. The Entrepreneurial Orientation Profile Inventory (EOPI) was developed to evaluate the Proactiveness, Innovativeness and Risk-Taking dimensions of Entrepreneurial Orientation using a situational judgment test (SJT) testing methodology. The current research outlines the initial development of the testing items and provides a preliminary review of the process used to develop a scoring key and evaluate the psychometric properties of the measure among two independent samples. Study 1 focused on developing a key to score and evaluate data in subsequent samples. In Study 1, 49 adult workers provided ratings regarding the most and least effective response to 12 business-related scenarios designed to measure the Proactiveness, Innovativeness and Risk-Taking dimensions of Entrepreneurial Orientation. Interrater consistency analyses were conducted to determine the correct rank order of the response options within the most and least effective response conditions. In the most effective condition, raters reached consensus on the correct ranking of the response options for 7 of the 12 items. In the least effective condition, raters reached consensus on the correct ranking of the response options for 9 of the 12 items. The highest ranked response option was identified as the “correct” response and used as a scoring key in Study 2. This finding suggests individuals are generally better at identifying a single best ineffective solution to a business-related problem, but less effective at identifying a single best effective solution to a business-related problem. Thus, when using an SJT format to evaluate business-related problems, asking respondents to identify the least effective responses is likely to provide better identification of a “correct” response. Items for which the adult sample reached agreement were retained for further examination in Study 2. Study 2 was conducted to evaluate the impact of three response option instruction and scoring methodologies (i.e., “most effective”, least effective” or a combined “most and least effective”) on the reliability and validity of the EOPI measure. Using a sample of 188 undergraduate students, the construct and criterion validity of the EOPI measure as a unidimensional composite and at the item level was evaluated. Across the three conditions, the results of the construct and criterion validity analyses generally failed to support the EOPI instrument as an effective method to evaluate Entrepreneurial Orientation at the composite level. The modest correlation coefficients among the criteria variables suggest a potentially broader measurement issue with currently available measures of Entrepreneurship in general. Within the “least effective” response instruction condition, minor significant results were found at the item level. A review of these items provides insight into how modifications of EOPI items may facilitate future item development. Further, the current research also suggests that biographical data may provide insight into the measurement of Entrepreneurial Orientation. A biodata-based unidimensional composite of Entrepreneurial Behavior was found to be both marginally reliable and significantly related to an alternative measure of Entrepreneurial Orientation. The development of additional biodata items that correlate with the current items is likely to improve the psychometric properties of the Entrepreneurial Orientation composite and provide insight into the role of previous experience as a valid and reliable indicator of Entrepreneurial Orientation and Entrepreneurship behaviors.

ITC/USA 2009 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Fifth Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 26-29, 2009 / Riviera Hotel & Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / The Common Display System (CDS) will provide all NAVAIRWD sites with a flexible Range real-time situational awareness and telemetry display/processing capability. CDS will have an extensible framework enabling all sites to quickly and conveniently develop Range unique plugins to accommodate new requirements or functionality not presently found in the applications common core plug-ins. Range unique plug-ins are separate and distinct from the application's common core engine.

Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) is a surgical technique involving small incisions performed by an endoscope and several long, thin instruments. Because of its minimally invasive nature, MIS minimizes complications and speeds up recovery time compared to the traditional surgery. Unfortunately, from a surgeon's perspective, MIS is much more challenging than conventional surgery. Because the limited vision and sensing feedbacks, MIS a difficult skill for medical students and residents to master.There has been some research on the effectiveness of different kinds of training and guidance. Surgical simulation is increasingly perceived as a valuable addition to traditional medical training methods, although most existing simulators have limitations stemming from either a lack of objective performance assessment or an insufficient relation to the operating room reality.The objective of this research is to design and realize a novel prototype that advances the state of the art in surgical training, assessment, and guidance for MIS. The prototype features micro-sensors embedded into the instruments employed for simulation training. The system provides multiple training scenarios, a high fidelity training environment, repeatable, structured exercises, and objective performance assessment capabilities.The proposed Situational Awareness Enhancing System (SAES) uses a unified framework incorporating perception, comprehension, and projection software modules that provide feedback during the exercises and enable evaluation of the training procedure.A multiple sensor data fusion method was developed to help surgeons efficiently acquire information in real time. The output, "Hybridview", is produced by fusing the information from digital camera and magnetic position sensors, and shows an overlay of the positions of organs and objects with the trajectory of instruments. An intelligent inference engine was designed to formulate an objective standard based on the expertise of senior surgeons and to provide an accurate scoring method. A multi-level fuzzy inference engine and new performance metrics were implemented.To demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed training system, numerous experiments were conducted. The results show that the situational awareness training system for MIS is useful and efficient.