Abstract
Computer-simulated microworlds bridge the gap between the complexity of field investigations and the rigor of laboratory studies. The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to the major methodological issues involved in developing and using computer-simulated microworlds for the psychological study of complex decision-making behavior. These issues comprise flexibility and generality in the microworlds that can be created, adequate psychological validity, automatic trial administration and data logging, capacity to interface simulations of psychological processes, and adequate testing and documentation. Each of these issues is illustrated by indicating how it has been addressed in Fire Chief, a microworld generating program specifically designed for creating realistic, yet controllable, decision-making task environments in the psychology laboratory. Fire Chief (Omodei & Wearing, 1993a) is introduced as both fully portable to other research teams and suitable for use in many different contexts requiring a complex task situation.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Ackerman, P. L. (1987). Individual differences in skill learning: An integration of psychometric and information processing perspectives.Psychological Bulletin,102, 3–27.
Boden, M. (1988).Computer models of mind: Computational approaches in theoretical psychology. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Brehmer, B. (1992, fall). Research in Uppsala continues to focus on problems of dynamic decision making.Brunswik Society Newsletter,7, 1–2.
Brehmer, B., &Allard, R. (1991). Dynamic decision making: The effects of task complexity and feedback delay. In J. Rasmussen, B. Brehmer, & J. Leplat (Eds.),Distributed decision making: Cognitive models for cooperative work (pp. 319–355). New York: Wiley.
Brehmer, B., &Dörner, D. (1993). Experiments with computer-simulated microworlds: Escaping both the narrow straits of the laboratory and the deep blue sea of the field study.Computers in Human Behavior,9, 171–184.
Brehmer, B., Leplat, J., &Rasmussen, J. (1991). Use of simulation in the study of complex decision making. In J. Rasmussen, B. Brehmer, & J. Leplat (Eds.),Distributed decision making: Cognitive models for cooperative work (pp. 373–386). New York: Wiley.
Brehmer, B., &Løvborg, L. (1991). NewFire—A flexible system for running simulated fire-fighting experiments. InProceedings of the Second Mohawc Workshop: Cognitive processes and resources, Manchester, 27–28 November, 1990 (pp. 187–200). Roskilde: Risø National Laboratory.
Donchin, E. (1989). The Learning Strategies project. Introductory remarks.Acta Psychologica,71, 17–22.
Dörner, D., Kreuzig, H. W., Reither, F., &Stäudel, T. (1983).Lohhausen: Vom Umgang mit Unbestimmtheit und Komplexität [Lohhausen: On dealing with uncertainty and complexity]. Bern: Huber.
Dörner, D., Stäudel, T., &Strohschneider, S. (1988).Moro: Programmdokumentation [Moro: Program Manual] (Memorandum XX). Bamberg, Germany: University of Bamberg, Lehrstuhl Psychologie II
Kanfer, R., &Ackerman, P. L. (1989a). Dynamics of skill acquisition: Building a bridge between intelligence and motivation. In R. J. Sternberg (Ed.),Advances in the psychology of human intelligence (Vol. 5, pp. 83–134). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Kanfer, R., &Ackerman, P. L. (1989b). Motivation and cognitive abilities: An integrative/aptitude-treatment interaction approach to skill acquisition.Journal of Applied Psychology,74, 657–690.
Luke, R. H., &McArthur, A. G. (1978).Bushfires in Australia. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.
Mané, A., &Donchin, E. (1989). The Space Fortress game.Acta Psychologica,71, 17–22.
Meichenbaum, D., &Butler, L. (1979). Cognitive ethology: Assessing the streams of cognition and emotion. In K. Blankstein, P. Pliner, & J. Polivy (Eds.),Advances in the study of communication and affect: Assessment and modification of emotional behavior (Vol. 6, pp. 306–321). New York: Guilford.
Morris, N. M., &Rouse, W. B. (1985). The effects of type of knowledge upon human problem solving in a process control task.IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics,SMC-15, 698–707.
Omodei, M. M. (1990).Decoy : A dynamic decision making task [Computer program]. University of Melbourne, Department of Psychology.
Omodei, M. M. (1993).Fire Chief: A computer simulated real time dynamic decision making task. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Melbourne.
Omodei, M. M.,Olver, N. D.,Gilbert, J., &Wearing, A. J. (1993, August).Controlling real time dynamic environments: Relevant task and person characteristics. Paper presented at the Research Conference on Subjective Probability, Utility, and Decision Making, Aix-En-Provence, France.
Omodei, M. M., &Wearing, A. J. (1989, November).Cognition and affect in dynamic decision making: A study of involvement, boredom, and anxiety in a forest firefighting simulation. Paper presented at the meeting of the Psychonomic Society, Atlanta.
Omodei, M. M., &Wearing, A. J. (1991, August).Decision making in complex dynamic settings: A theoretical model incorporating motivation, intention, affect, and cognitive performance. Paper presented at the Research Conference on Subjective Probability, Utility, and Decision Making, Fribourg.
Omodei, M. M., &Wearing, A. J. (1992, September).Research applications of the Fire Chief microworld simulation program. Paper presented at the Conference of the Australian Psychological Society, Armidale.
Omodei, M. M., &Wearing, A. J. (1993a).Fire Chief (Version 2.2) [Computer program]. University of Melbourne, Department of Psychology.
Omodei, M. M., &Wearing, A. J. (1993b).Fire Chief user manual (Version 2.2). University of Melbourne, Department of Psychology (ISBN: 0 86744 028 7).
Omodei, M. M., &Wearing, A. J. (1994). Perceived difficulty and motivated cognitive effort in a computer-simulated forest firefighting task.Perceptual & Motor Skills,79, 115–127.
Reichert, U., &Dörner, D. (1988). Heurismen beim Umgang mit einem “einfachen” dynamischen System [Heuristics in the control of a “simple” dynamic system].Sprache & Kognition,7, 12–24.
Schaub, H. (1990). The year of the gardener—behavior in a complex situation. InProceedings of the Second Mohawc Workshop: Cognitive Processes and Resources, Manchester, 27–28 November, 1990 (pp. 73–90). Roskilde: Risø National Laboratory.
Schneider, W., Dumais, S. T., &Shiffrin, R. M. (1984). Automatic and control processing and attention. In R. Parasuraman & D. R. Davies (Eds.),Varieties of attention (pp. 1–27). New York: Academic Press.
Schneider, W., &Shiffrin, R. M. (1977). Controlled and automatic human information processing: I. Detection, search, and attention.Psychological Review,84, 1–66.
Shiffrin, R. M., &Schneider, W. (1977). Controlled and automatic human information processing: II. Perceptual learning, automatic attending, and a general theory.Psychological Review,84, 127–190.
Sprinsock, E. (1985).Fire [Computer program]. San Francisco: Freeware.
Turkle, S. (1984).The second self: Computers and the human spirit. London: Granada.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
The development of the Fire Chief program and the preparation of the program manual were supported by the Australian Research Council, Grant A78931183. We gratefully acknowledge the extensive programming support provided by Ben Johnston throughout all stages of Fire Chief development.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Omodei, M.M., Wearing, A.J. The Fire Chief microworld generating program: An illustration of computer-simulated microworlds as an experimental paradigm for studying complex decision-making behavior. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers 27, 303–316 (1995). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03200423
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03200423