Development and validation of a role-play test for assessing crisis (hostage) negotiation skills

The purpose of this article is to (a) describe the construction of a role-play test (RPT), which is based on actual negotiated encounters by the Crisis Negotiation Unit of the FBI and employed specifically for evaluation and training of negotiation skills, and (b) provide preliminary validational support for the RPT. The first part of the study includes an overview of RPT item development and the role of active-listening skills; and the second part involves the validation of the RPT. Both groups were also administered self-report measures of social problem-solving skills and emotional empathy. Results indicate that in comparison to experts, nonexpert negotiators show deficiencies across active-listening skill categories. Relationships between use of active listening and emotional empathy are observed.