Study of decision-making in squash competition: a computer simulation approach.

This paper describes how a computer simulation approach was used to specify some of the cognitive processes underlying decision-making in squash competition. The work presented in this article focused on the cognitive strategy of the defending player when choosing among three categories of preparation. (Total preparation for one particular event, partial preparation in favor of one event, and absence of biased preparation.) The defending player is viewed as in information processing system (IPS) placed in a problem-solving situation, the problem being what decision to reach. There are four steps inherent to the computer simulation approach: (a) obtaining the verbal protocol, (2) analyzing the protocol, (3) computer simulation, and (4) validation. This paper describes how each of those steps have been completed, with a special emphasis being placed on the first step of the procedure, that of obtaining the verbal protocol.