ABSTRACT
In order to train or assess non-technical skills, the specific skills for a given occupation and work setting must be determined. As more non-technical skill taxonomies are developed, it is apparent that many of the basic skill categories are generic, especially across higher-risk occupations. This chapter discusses a number of different techniques used to identify non-technical skills. These techniques can be grouped into three different approaches: analysis of events from accident/incident reports, questioning and observation. Event-based analyses include both accident/near-miss analysis and confidential reporting systems. The questioning techniques are used to gather the information from individuals and teams that can then be used to identify the key non-technical skills associated with different roles and within different settings. Examples of research using combinations of the techniques to identify non-technical skills critical for safe and efficient performance are given from aviation, nuclear and medicine.
