Sociology and Action Shooting!?

Sociology as an Explanation for Stage Plans

by Josh Mazzola of AR15Targets

Sociology can certainly be a field of study which seems to produce some obvious conclusions in many circumstances, but it presents some exceptionally interesting and unique case studies as well.  One such case study is Solomon Asch's study on group conformity.  Asch conducted a study where he presented a question with an extremely obvious answer to a test subject.  When he asked the individual for the answer to his question in private, 99% of individuals polled provided the correct answer.  Asch then introduced the individual into a group setting (of approximately 7 people) where he asked the question again.  Asch instructed the rest of the group to purposely give the wrong answer to see how the original subject would react.  In over 1/3 of cases, the subject (who had given the correct answer in private) changed the answer they had given in private to the obviously wrong answer after having heard the rest of the group answer incorrectly.  Asch's study is one which still remains prevalent in understanding group dynamics and conformity.

Now, although this is an interesting topic for discussion, what does it have to do with shooting?  Well, if you ever have the chance to watch multiple squads of shooters shoot the same stage at matches of the various action shooting sports, (from a Range Officer's perspective for example) you will notice that within each squad, most shooters will shoot the stage with very little deviation from one another.  However, when comparing shooters from one squad to another, we often find that these individuals are much more likely to shoot the same stage very differently.  In other words, each squad seems to have an original take on the stage, but each person in that squad typically shoots the stage the same way everyone else in the squad does.  Now granted, sometimes stages are setup in a manner where there is really only one way to shoot them effectively, but there are also numerous other stages where there are multiple effective ways to shoot them; so can we hypothesize a cause for this manner of deviation between squads?  While there are certainly other variables which can effect a shooter's decision to attack a stage a certain way, I believe there is no way we can totally ignore Asch's study on conformity when we have this discussion.  As Asch has shown, even in cases where there is a completely obvious answer, over 30% of people will divert their decisions to those of others, and as we know, in action shooting, there is very rarely such an obvious answer to the problems presented in a stage.  Due to this fact, I'd suggest that the ratio expected in the circumstance of shooting is much higher than 30%.  Remember, action shooting sports are unique in the realm of sports, in that "players" have the opportunity to watch their opponents compete before trying it themselves.  This means that, just like in Asch's study, individuals can be influenced in how they shoot a stage based on the manner in which others shoot a stage and/or decide and discuss how to shoot a stage.  Every squad which I have ever been in has shooters who will discuss (in the very least among themselves) the way they best see to shoot the stage and the reasons why.  Based on Asch's study, other shooters in that squad are implicitly more likely to follow the group's decision on what is "correct", regardless of their own opinions (assuming their opinions are overruled by the group).  I will further hypothesize that shooters within each squad will often mimic the plan of the best shooter in the squad, regardless of whether his/her plan works best with other shooters' strengths/weaknesses.  Like in many things in life, those who are the best at action shooting and/or the opinions of those who are the best are often held in higher regard than those of others.  While I certainly believe this phenomenon to be of greater presence among less experienced shooters, I don't think that we can completely rule out Asch's study from even the higher levels of shooters in at least some shape or form.

Remember, when you are at a match, do your best to analyze a stage and pick a way to shoot which best highlights your skills and abilities.  Just because most people are shooting the stage a certain way, doesn't mean that that way is the best way for you to shoot it.  In this same line of thought however, it is also important to ask and listen to why other shooters are attacking a stage differently, even if a large majority of the reason relates to group-think, skilled shooters will still be able to give you tips and tricks to think about if you simply ask and listen.  A great deal of learning the tricks of action shooting comes from listening to someone who is better than you.