Group dynamics in avalanche terrain. A qualitative study of backcountry skier’s experiences with group dynamics and their influence on decision-making in avalanche terrain

Abstract

This study examines how the influence of group dynamics affects decision-making among experienced backcountry skiers in avalanche terrain. The study explores individual skiers' perspectives of group experiences in avalanche terrain and investigates how group dynamics have affected their decision-making. The study has a scientific-theoretical position of a critical qualitative orientation. This orientation proceeds with a relativist ontology, social constructionist epistemology and a hermeneutic phenomenological methodology. The collection of data was through semi-structured interviews with ten experienced backcountry skiers living in Tromsø (Norway). The skiers were strategically sampled through the snowball method (Tjora, 2021). Reflexive thematic analysis with a deductive theory driven approach was used to analyze the data (Braun et al., 2022). The study’s findings show that group dynamics had a multifaceted influence on the decision-making process. Different group dynamics influence groups before, during and even after skiing in avalanche terrain. They were also influential when the skiers decided who to ski with, and where to go skiing. Learning group dynamics were also mainly connected to negative experiences in avalanche terrain, which have certain implications for recreationists as well as professionals teaching avalanche safety. The findings provide new evidence concerning experienced skiers use of decision-making frameworks, while also demonstrating the need for further research on group dynamics and social factors, because of their relevance and influence towards decision-making in avalanche terrain.