Participant & Observer Roles
Chapter 1: Participants
In a simulation-based education (SBE), participants and observers play distinct roles, each contributing to the overall learning or research objectives of the simulation exercise.
We’ve defined the different participant and observer roles below:
- Participant (also known as Learner): One who engages in a simulation-based experiences for the purpose of gaining or demonstrating mastery of knowledge, skills and attitude of a professional practice (INACSL, Molloy et al., 2021, p. 61).
- Embedded Simulation Participant (also known as Standardized Participant, Standardized Patient, Scenario Guide, Scenario Role-Player, or Actor): “A role assigned in a simulation encounter to help guide the scenario. The guidance may be positive, negative, or neutral or as a distracter, depending on the objective(s), the level of the participants, and the scenario. Although the embedded participant’s role is part of the situation, the underlying purpose of the role may not be revealed to the participants in the scenario or simulation” (INACSL, Molloy et al., 2021, p. 61).
- Standardized Patient (SP): All human role players within simulation-based education (SBE) who have been correctly trained for the consistent portrayal of a role (Cowperthwait, 2020, p. 13).
Note:
Adhering to the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice is crucial. There are potential consequences that can occur of not following these standards (INACSL, 2021).
These includes (INACSL, 2021):
- Ineffective participant assessment and participants’ inability to meet identified objectives or achieve expected outcomes.
- Diminishing participants’ engagement in the simulation and limiting opportunities for them to reach the expected outcomes of the simulation-based experience.
- Potentially creating an uncomfortable experience for participants.
