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Can involving clients in simulation studies help them solve their future problems? A transfer of learning experiment

Can involving clients in simulation studies help them solve their future problems? A transfer of learning experiment
Can involving clients in simulation studies help them solve their future problems? A transfer of learning experiment
It is often stated that involving the client in operational research studies increases conceptual learning about a system which can then be applied repeatedly to other, similar, systems. Our study provides a novel measurement approach for behavioural OR studies that aim to analyse the impact of modelling in long term problem solving and decision making. In particular, our approach is the first to operationalise the measurement of transfer of learning from modelling using the concepts of close and far transfer, and overconfidence. We investigate learning in discrete-event simulation (DES) projects through an experimental study. Participants were trained to manage queuing problems by varying the degree to which they were involved in building and using a DES model of a hospital emergency department. They were then asked to transfer learning to a set of analogous problems. Findings demonstrate that transfer of learning from a simulation study is difficult, but possible. However, this learning is only accessible when sufficient time is provided for clients to process the structural behaviour of the model. Overconfidence is also an issue when the clients who were involved in model building attempt to transfer their learning without the aid of a new model. Behavioural OR studies that aim to understand learning from modelling can ultimately improve our modelling interactions with clients; helping to ensure the benefits for a longer term; and enabling modelling efforts to become more sustainable
behavioural or, sychology of decision, model building, model reuse, discrete-event simulation
0377-2217
919-930
Monks, Thomas
fece343c-106d-461d-a1dd-71c1772627ca
Robinson, Stewart
1003a3e5-df15-4119-8f68-890f7de7bff1
Kotiadis, Kathy
11adfca2-462f-41d0-b7bb-f1b1acf7a8fd
Monks, Thomas
fece343c-106d-461d-a1dd-71c1772627ca
Robinson, Stewart
1003a3e5-df15-4119-8f68-890f7de7bff1
Kotiadis, Kathy
11adfca2-462f-41d0-b7bb-f1b1acf7a8fd

Monks, Thomas, Robinson, Stewart and Kotiadis, Kathy (2016) Can involving clients in simulation studies help them solve their future problems? A transfer of learning experiment. European Journal of Operational Research, 249 (3), 919-930. (doi:10.1016/j.ejor.2015.08.037).

Record type: Article

Abstract

It is often stated that involving the client in operational research studies increases conceptual learning about a system which can then be applied repeatedly to other, similar, systems. Our study provides a novel measurement approach for behavioural OR studies that aim to analyse the impact of modelling in long term problem solving and decision making. In particular, our approach is the first to operationalise the measurement of transfer of learning from modelling using the concepts of close and far transfer, and overconfidence. We investigate learning in discrete-event simulation (DES) projects through an experimental study. Participants were trained to manage queuing problems by varying the degree to which they were involved in building and using a DES model of a hospital emergency department. They were then asked to transfer learning to a set of analogous problems. Findings demonstrate that transfer of learning from a simulation study is difficult, but possible. However, this learning is only accessible when sufficient time is provided for clients to process the structural behaviour of the model. Overconfidence is also an issue when the clients who were involved in model building attempt to transfer their learning without the aid of a new model. Behavioural OR studies that aim to understand learning from modelling can ultimately improve our modelling interactions with clients; helping to ensure the benefits for a longer term; and enabling modelling efforts to become more sustainable

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Submitted date: 1 October 2014
Accepted/In Press date: 24 August 2015
e-pub ahead of print date: 29 August 2015
Published date: 16 March 2016
Keywords: behavioural or, sychology of decision, model building, model reuse, discrete-event simulation
Organisations: Faculty of Health Sciences

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 381665
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/381665
ISSN: 0377-2217
PURE UUID: 1afb4d3b-a84c-40d9-820a-9686429ce972
ORCID for Thomas Monks: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2631-4481

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Date deposited: 12 Oct 2015 13:08
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 21:18

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Author: Thomas Monks ORCID iD
Author: Stewart Robinson
Author: Kathy Kotiadis

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