When an evaluative situation is set up, and no concern is with the details that lead to an over-all estimate, we say that roleplaying is used for evaluation. Observers can see a person engaged in spontaneous behavior, and watch him operating in a totalistic fashion. This behavior is more ``veridical'' -- or true than other testing behavior for some types of evaluation, and so can give quick and accurate estimates of complex functioning.

While roleplaying for testing is not too well understood at the present time, it represents one of the major uses of this procedure.

The objective of this chapter is to clarify the distinctions between spontaneity theory and other training concepts. In addition, the basic approach utilized in applying roleplaying will be reviewed. The goal will be to provide the reader with an integrated rationale to aid him in applying roleplaying techniques in this unique training area. The reasons for extracting this particular roleplaying application from the previous discussion of training are twofold:

Spontaneity training theory is unique and relatively new.