In this project, we study third-year police students’ thinking processes, decision-processes and the relation between the two. More concretely we examine the students’ thinking and decision-making during a simulated critical incident scenario. Our focus is on the presence, quality, and impact of the cognitive process known as rumination—a form of persistent, repetitive thinking characterised by dwelling on personal experiences, thoughts, or emotional states. Individuals are more likely to ruminate under stress, making it particularly relevant in high-pressure encounters. Unconstructive repetitive thinking, such as rumination, may strain cognitive resources and disrupt decision-making by impairing information processing and diminishing cognitive control. Eigthy-six students participated in our study, which combined online surveys, observation, debriefings and in-depth interviews (the latter conducted with a subsample of 10 participants) to examine ways of thinking and decision-making based on both self-report and observational data.
Thinking and Decision-Making in Critical Incident Policing
This project is founded on the underlying assumption that ways of thinking may influence the quality of decision-making in operational police work during critical incidents. The participants in the study are third-year students at the Norwegian Police University College. We have examined their their ways of thinking, their decision-making processes and the relationship between the two. Data was collected through questionnaires, behavioural observation during a simulated critical incident exercise, as well as debriefing sessions and in-depth interviews.
Participants
Published
Nov. 26, 2025 9:35 AM
- Last modified
Nov. 26, 2025 9:35 AM