DrDavid Broadbent

My main research interest is in the area of skill acquisition and expert performance across a range of domains, such as sport (e.g., soccer, tennis, AFL) and transportation (e.g., cycling, driving). I have a particular interest in the perceptual-cognitive skills underpinning anticipation and decision-making skills (e.g., visual search behaviour, situational probabilities), and the factors that can impact these processes, such as pressure, fatigue, and physical and mental load. I am also interested in investigating ways to train perceptual-cognitive skills to enhance anticipation and decision-making skills using skill acquisition and coaching principles, as well as innovative technologies (e.g., Virtual Reality). For example, in the UK I was involved in project funded by the Department for Transport that examined the use of a 360 Virtual Reality immersive gamified intervention to enhance the hazard perception skills and situation awareness of children cyclists.

I use a variety of measures and techniques as part of my research, such as eye-tracking technology, video simulations, Virtual Reality, performance analysis, neuroscientific measures (e.g. functional near-infrared spectroscopy [fNIRS]), and behavioural responses (e.g. decision time).

Knowledge Areas
* Expert Performance
* Skill Acquisition
* Perceptual-cognitive Skills (e.g., Visual Search Behaviour)
* Anticipation and Decision-Making Skills
* Situation Awareness
* Hazard Perception in Cycling/Driving
* Virtual Reality