Research in the fields of complex problem solving (CPS) and dynamic decision making using microworlds has been mainly conducted in Western industrialized countries. This study analyzes the CPS process by investigating thinking‐aloud protocols in five countries. Participants were 511 students from Brazil, Germany, India, the Philippines, and the United States who worked on two microworlds. On the basis of cultural‐psychological theories, specific cross‐national differences in CPS strategies were hypothesized. Following theories of situatedness of cognition, hypotheses about the specific frequency of (...) problem‐solving strategies in the two microworlds were developed. Results of the verbal protocols showed (a) modification of the theoretical CPS model, (b) task dependence of CPS strategies, and (c) cross‐national differences in CPS strategies. Participants’ CPS processes were particularly influenced by country‐specific problem‐solving strategies. (shrink)

The current study had three goals: to investigate strategies, tactics, and errors as predictors of success and failure under uncertainty following the dynamic decision making and complex problem solving framework; to use observation and to examine its reliability and potential as a data collection method when using microworlds; and to investigate the applicability and validity of a microworld developed in the West, to an Asian sample. One hundred three participants in the Philippines took the role of fire chief in the (...) microworld WINFIRE. Their strategies, tactics, and errors were observed and coded by experimenters as they worked individually on the simulation twice. Results showed that DDM strategies, tactics, and errors predicted success and failure in WINFIRE, and strategies and tactics that led to success increased while errors decreased over time; strategies, tactics, and errors can be validly assessed through observation by experimenters, specifically that two types of decision makers were identified: the active, flexible, and big picture planners and the slow or cautious, and singlefocused decision makers; these findings together with participants’ survey ratings speak for the applicability of the microworld in an East Asian sample and for its validity. Findings are potentially relevant for experts and for training programs, highlighting the benefits of virtual environments during DDM. (shrink)