Document Type

Thesis

Date of Degree Completion

Winter 2019

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

Anthony Stahelski

Second Committee Member

Mary Radeke

Third Committee Member

Jeffrey Penick

Abstract

There has been growing research evaluating hazardous occupations to gain a better understanding of how crisis leaders and followers, such as wildland firefighters make decisions in high-stress environments. In this study, wildland firefighters were examined to assess their decision-making skills using a wildland fire simulation computer game called the Networked Fire Chief (NFC). These results were compared against both the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire and the Big Five personality traits using Saucier’s abbreviated Mini-Markers. Only a small sample of wildland firefighters was available to participate due to the intense 2017 fire season. Additional participants were recruited through CWU Sona system. Results indicated that leadership experience, rather than personality traits, were a significant predictor of transformational leadership in the wildland firefighter sample. Additionally, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and extraversion were significant predictors of transformational leadership.

Language

English

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