PERFORMANCE EFFECTS OF STRUCTURAL AND BEHAVIOURAL DEBRIEFINGS IN TRANSPARENT SIMULATIONS.

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Title:	PERFORMANCE EFFECTS OF STRUCTURAL AND BEHAVIOURAL DEBRIEFINGS IN TRANSPARENT SIMULATIONS.
Authors:	Capelo, Carlos¹, Pereira, Renato², Ferreira Dias, João³
Source:	Proceedings of the IADIS International Conference on Cognition & Exploratory Learning in Digital Age. 2020, p149-156. 8p.
Subject Terms:	Effective teaching, Learning, *Comprehension, Dynamical systems, Simulation methods & models
Abstract:	Simulation-based learning environments are used extensively to support learning in complex business systems. Nevertheless, studies show that subjects have great difficulty in understanding and managing dynamic systems, mainly due to cognitive processing difficulties. Previous research has addressed some aspects of model transparency and instructional strategy and produced inconclusive results about their impact on learning effectiveness. This study explores the learning and performance effects of using transparent simulations (that is, showing users the internal structure of models) and applying structural and behavioural debriefings focussed respectively on the critical variables and relations and on the relation between model structure, patterns of actions, and system behaviour. We present a set of hypotheses about the influence of the model transparency and debriefing conditions on participants’ performance and comprehension of the system dynamics. In a simulation experiment, participants interacted with a system dynamics model, representing the growth of a business venture. Participants provided with the more transparent strategy and exposed to structure and behavioural debriefings achieved higher performance and demonstrated better comprehension of the model dynamics. However, our findings indicate that while these conditions are beneficial for understanding the business system dynamics, making only the simulator transparent, even combined with structural debriefing, is more limited in its effect. Three out of the six hypotheses were confirmed. Structural debriefing (in conjunction with model transparency) positively influences performance, behavioural debriefing (combined with model transparency) positively influences both model dynamics comprehension and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
	Copyright of Proceedings of the IADIS International Conference on Cognition & Exploratory Learning in Digital Age is the property of International Association for Development of the Information Society (IADIS) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database:	Education Research Complete

Description
Abstract:	Simulation-based learning environments are used extensively to support learning in complex business systems. Nevertheless, studies show that subjects have great difficulty in understanding and managing dynamic systems, mainly due to cognitive processing difficulties. Previous research has addressed some aspects of model transparency and instructional strategy and produced inconclusive results about their impact on learning effectiveness. This study explores the learning and performance effects of using transparent simulations (that is, showing users the internal structure of models) and applying structural and behavioural debriefings focussed respectively on the critical variables and relations and on the relation between model structure, patterns of actions, and system behaviour. We present a set of hypotheses about the influence of the model transparency and debriefing conditions on participants’ performance and comprehension of the system dynamics. In a simulation experiment, participants interacted with a system dynamics model, representing the growth of a business venture. Participants provided with the more transparent strategy and exposed to structure and behavioural debriefings achieved higher performance and demonstrated better comprehension of the model dynamics. However, our findings indicate that while these conditions are beneficial for understanding the business system dynamics, making only the simulator transparent, even combined with structural debriefing, is more limited in its effect. Three out of the six hypotheses were confirmed. Structural debriefing (in conjunction with model transparency) positively influences performance, behavioural debriefing (combined with model transparency) positively influences both model dynamics comprehension and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]