IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/sysdyn/v27y2011i2p142-172.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Simulator‐supported descriptions of complex dynamic problems: experimental results on task performance and system understanding

Author

Listed:
  • Birgit Kopainsky
  • Agata Sawicka

Abstract

Research shows that people have great difficulty in understanding dynamics. Even when problem descriptions contain all the necessary information, people tend to mismanage dynamic systems. Given the increasing complexity of our modern societies, effective ways to communicate dynamics need to be identified. In this paper we explore the effectiveness of simulator‐supported problem descriptions. We add an interactive simulation tool to the textual instructions of a well‐tested natural‐resource management task. With this tool, the dynamic aspects of the problem can be explored. In laboratory experiments, we find that simulator‐supported problem presentations improve both the subjects' performance and their understanding. The analysis of mental effort data reveals that the simulator facilitates effective cognitive processing and thus allows the subjects to acquire more adequate mental representations of the task. Building on these results, we derive implications for the design of interactive learning environments and for the more general presentation of complex dynamic problems. Copyright © 2010 System Dynamics Society.

Suggested Citation

  • Birgit Kopainsky & Agata Sawicka, 2011. "Simulator‐supported descriptions of complex dynamic problems: experimental results on task performance and system understanding," System Dynamics Review, System Dynamics Society, vol. 27(2), pages 142-172, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:sysdyn:v:27:y:2011:i:2:p:142-172
    DOI: 10.1002/sdr.445
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/sdr.445
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/sdr.445?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Langley, Paul A. & Morecroft, John D. W., 2004. "Performance and learning in a simulation of oil industry dynamics," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 155(3), pages 715-732, June.
    2. Moxnes, Erling, 1998. "Overexploitation of renewable resources: The role of misperceptions," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 107-127, September.
    3. Mark Paich & John D. Sterman, 1993. "Boom, Bust, and Failures to Learn in Experimental Markets," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 39(12), pages 1439-1458, December.
    4. Diehl, Ernst & Sterman, John D., 1995. "Effects of Feedback Complexity on Dynamic Decision Making," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 62(2), pages 198-215, May.
    5. Kishore Sengupta & Tarek K. Abdel-Hamid, 1993. "Alternative Conceptions of Feedback in Dynamic Decision Environments: An Experimental Investigation," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 39(4), pages 411-428, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Oleg V Pavlov & Evangelos Katsamakas, 2020. "Will colleges survive the storm of declining enrollments? A computational model," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(8), pages 1-29, August.
    2. Franco, L. Alberto & Hämäläinen, Raimo P. & Rouwette, Etiënne A.J.A. & Leppänen, Ilkka, 2021. "Taking stock of behavioural OR: A review of behavioural studies with an intervention focus," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 293(2), pages 401-418.
    3. Caroline Brennan & Owen Molloy, 2020. "A system dynamics approach to sustainability education," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(6), pages 875-879, November.
    4. Scott, Rodney J & Cavana, Robert Y & Cameron, Donald, 2016. "Recent evidence on the effectiveness of group model building," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 249(3), pages 908-918.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Gibson, Faison P., 2000. "Feedback Delays: How Can Decision Makers Learn Not to Buy a New Car Every Time the Garage Is Empty?," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 83(1), pages 141-166, September.
    2. John Hey & Tibor Neugebauer & Abdolkarim Sadrieh, 2009. "An Experimental Analysis of Optimal Renewable Resource Management: The Fishery," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 44(2), pages 263-285, October.
    3. Atun, Rifat A. & Lebcir, Reda M. & McKee, Martin & Habicht, Jarno & Coker, Richard J., 2007. "Impact of joined-up HIV harm reduction and multidrug resistant tuberculosis control programmes in Estonia: System dynamics simulation model," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(2-3), pages 207-217, May.
    4. Faison P. Gibson, 2007. "Learning and transfer in dynamic decision environments," Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 39-61, March.
    5. Lurie, Nicholas H. & Swaminathan, Jayashankar M., 2009. "Is timely information always better? The effect of feedback frequency on decision making," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 108(2), pages 315-329, March.
    6. Schnier, Kurt E. & Anderson, Christopher M., 2006. "Decision making in patchy resource environments: Spatial misperception of bioeconomic models," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 61(2), pages 234-254, October.
    7. Elsawah, Sondoss & McLucas, Alan & Mazanov, Jason, 2017. "An empirical investigation into the learning effects of management flight simulators: A mental models approach," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 259(1), pages 262-272.
    8. Arango, Santiago & Moxnes, Erling, 2012. "Commodity cycles, a function of market complexity? Extending the cobweb experiment," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 84(1), pages 321-334.
    9. Anne M. Farrell & Joan Luft & Michael D. Shields, 2007. "Accuracy in Judging the Nonlinear Effects of Cost and Profit Drivers," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(4), pages 1139-1169, December.
    10. Sandra C. Vera†Muñoz & Margaret Shackell & Marc Buehner, 2007. "Accountants' Usage of Causal Business Models in the Presence of Benchmark Data: A Note," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(3), pages 1015-1038, September.
    11. Strohhecker, Jürgen & Leyer, Michael, 2019. "How stock-flow failure and general cognitive ability impact performance in operational dynamic control tasks," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 276(3), pages 1044-1055.
    12. David C. Lane & Birgit Kopainsky & Ali Kerem Saysel, 2017. "Role of Information Feedback in Soil Nitrogen Management: Results from a Dynamic Simulation Game," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(4), pages 424-439, July.
    13. Michael Shayne Gary & Robert E. Wood, 2016. "Unpacking mental models through laboratory experiments," System Dynamics Review, System Dynamics Society, vol. 32(2), pages 99-127, April.
    14. Langley, Paul A. & Morecroft, John D. W., 2004. "Performance and learning in a simulation of oil industry dynamics," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 155(3), pages 715-732, June.
    15. Miles M. Yang & Hong Jiang & Michael Shayne Gary, 2016. "Challenging learning goals improve performance in dynamically complex microworld simulations," System Dynamics Review, System Dynamics Society, vol. 32(3-4), pages 204-232, July.
    16. Jürgen Strohhecker & Andreas Größler, 2012. "Implementing Sustainable Business Strategies," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(6), pages 547-570, November.
    17. Atkins, Paul W. B. & Wood, Robert E. & Rutgers, Philip J., 2002. "The effects of feedback format on dynamic decision making," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 88(2), pages 587-604, July.
    18. Villa, Sebastián, 2022. "Competing for supply and demand: Understanding retailers' ordering decisions," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).
    19. Monks, Thomas & Robinson, Stewart & Kotiadis, Kathy, 2014. "Learning from discrete-event simulation: Exploring the high involvement hypothesis," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 235(1), pages 195-205.
    20. Faison P. Gibson, 2003. "Supporting Learning in Evolving Dynamic Environments," Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory, Springer, vol. 9(4), pages 305-326, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:sysdyn:v:27:y:2011:i:2:p:142-172. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/0883-7066 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.