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Abstract. There appears to be a wide acceptance that debriefing plays an important role in the learning process of simulation-based programs. Indeed, the past decade has witnessed an increasing number of studies into debriefing across disciplines. Our research team has been conducting field research with airlines, over a number of years, to clarify what constitutes effective debriefing for airline pilot training. To assist this clarification, a comprehensive systematic review of existing studies into debriefing across disciplines was designed to direct further analysis of the data the team had collected. A preliminary investigation into this broad debriefing literature exposed that there was little consensus among many papers about effective debriefing practice owing to inconsistencies in: (a) methodological approaches, (b) terminology, and (c) professional focus. As a way of overcoming these inconsistencies, this paper initially synthesized research findings from a small number of existing systematic reviews scrutinizing debriefing across a variety of professional disciplines. The literature search identified 10 papers, three meta-analyses, and seven qualitative systematic reviews. This paper aims to identify key elements influencing learning outcomes from debriefing practices and presents the findings of this study as a single framework of debriefing elements.

Aircraft accidents over the last decade have raised questions about the most effective way to transition pilots onto new aircraft automation systems. This debate can range from the details contained within aircraft flight manuals to computer-based versus simulator-based training. While some questions are still under consideration, most fall short in the understanding of how pilots "actually" learn. The researchers conducted a longitudinal study focusing on pilot learning; through interviews, observations, and field documentation, 10 pilot trainees from two regional airlines were followed for 5 months throughout their initial airline training. Using joint cognitive systems theory, and concepts from curriculum theory to understand the utility of training programs, the study revealed gaps between the airlines' intended learning outcomes and the trainees' actual experiences. The findings demonstrate that automation, as opposed to other aircraft systems, may require different approaches to learning. Recommendations for possible modifications to current pilot training are discussed.

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