Decision-making processes evaluation using two methodologies: field and simulation techniques

The study of information processing and human actions in complex environments requires the use of methodological tools that enable one to comprehend the complexity of context without sacrificing methodological accuracy, control of variables or results generalization. Research methods that allow the study of strategies that people use when they make decisions are, among others, field studies and simulated micro-worlds. The aim of this paper is to present the main theoretical and methodological conclusions obtained in two studies centred on decision-making processes. The authors were interested in evaluating the results obtained both in a previous field study developed with experts in process control tasks and in a simulated study with inexperienced people. In the field study, a verbal protocol technique was used, while in the simulated study a simulated dynamic task was developed which contained the main features of control process tasks. Among other factors, the authors are interested in exploring the effect of expertise with the task, the learning strategies and the ways of task solving. The results of these two studies indicate some characteristics of a good performance such as the importance of information searches; the taking into account of delays in the effects of the actions; the anticipation of possible system changes.