'An error is feedback': The experience of communication error management in crisis negotiations

Miriam S.D. Oostinga (Corresponding Author), Ellen Giebels, Paul J Taylor

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)
355 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

A range of studies have examined what should be said and done in crisis negotiations. Yet, no study to date has considered what happens when an error is made, how to respond to an error, and what the consequences of errors and responses might be on the negotiation process itself. To develop our understanding of errors, we conducted 11 semi-structured interviews with police crisis negotiators in the Netherlands. Negotiators reported making errors of three types: factual, judgment, or contextual. They also reported making use of four types of response strategy: accept, apologize, attribute, and contradict. Critically, the negotiators did not perceive errors as solely detrimental, but as an opportunity for feedback. They advocated for an error management approach, which focused on what could be learned from another person’s errors when looking back at them. Suggestions for improvement of the communication error management experience in crisis negotiations are discussed.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)17-30
Number of pages14
JournalPolice Practice and Research
Volume19
Issue number1
Early online date15 Apr 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2 Jan 2018

Keywords

  • UT-Hybrid-D
  • Response strategies
  • Error management
  • Error orientation
  • Crisis negotiation
  • Communication errors

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