Systems analysis and dynamic decision making

Abstract Previous research in dynamic decision making has failed to produce a unified approach to the area This has result in a collection of experiments whose results are difficult to generalise from the specific task systems used. It is argued that an approach focusing on the structure of the task system and employing well-known methods of systems analysis can overcome this difficulty. In addition, this technique can order research and assist in the psychological interpretation of system parameters. The use of systems analysis in this role is demonstrated in an experiment using first order feedback system. subjects were required to stabilise the system at a level other than its equilibrium. The results show that subjects quickly adapt to different values of parameters in the system boundary. However performance was consistently better in more inertial systems. This suggests that subjects rely on the task system to integrate over-and underadjustments of their decision inputs.

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