Cultural Influences on Dynamic Decision Making

世界各地的人们在日常生活中面临问题，需要做出决定。在这个全球化的时代，许多人在国外生活和工作，或者与来自不同国家的人一起工作，因此需要共同做出决定和解决问题。文化背景如何影响个人的问题解决和决策？跨文化心理学的研究很少调查这些主题，而认知心理学的研究很少包括决策调查中的文化变量。因此，本研究将弥合这两个学科之间的理论差距。研究重点是文化价值观和决策之间的关系。文化价值观-更具体地说，个人主义与集体主义、纵向与横向价值取向-将通过价值取向问卷进行衡量。决策分析将侧重于不同的战略和决策的成功。来自德国和美国（个人主义文化）、巴西和菲律宾（集体主义文化）以及印度（既不是个人主义文化也不是集体主义文化）的400名心理学和工商管理大学生将参与这项研究。为了分析动态决策，将使用两个计算机模拟"WinFire"和"Coldstorage"。与简单的决策任务相比，这些关于森林火灾和冷藏库破裂的计算机模拟更加真实，与日常生活有关。在决策研究中，计算机模拟已被证明是系统的，富有成效的，和生产力的数据收集方法。模拟的数据将在各个阶段收集，保存在计算机文件和录像带中，然后进行分析。从一个理论模型，具体的假设将得出如何决策策略将根据不同的文化价值取向而有所不同。然后将用结构方程模型对模型进行检验。除了理论价值外，本研究的结果也将与应用心理学领域有关。研究结果可以纳入战略思维和动态决策的教育培训计划，以及跨文化能力和敏感性的培训计划。研究，培训和实践的影响和相关性将得到解决。

All around the world people face problems in their daily lives and need to make decisions. In these times of globalization, many people live and work abroad or work together with people from different countries and consequently need to make decisions and solve problems together. How does cultural background influence individuals' problem solving and decision making? Research in Cross-cultural Psychology rarely investigates these topics, whereas research in Cognitive Psychology rarely includes cultural variables in the investigation of decision making. This study will thus bridge a theoretical gap between the two disciplines.The research focuses on the relationship between cultural values and decision making. Cultural values - more specifically, individualistic versus collectivist, and vertical versus horizontal value orientations - will be measured by means of value orientation questionnaires. Decision making analysis will focus on different strategies and decision making success. Four hundred psychology and business administration college students from Germany and the US (individualistic cultures), from Brazil and the Philippines (collectivist cultures), and from India (neither individualistic nor collectivist culture) will participate in the study. To analyze dynamic decision making, two computer simulations "WinFire" and "Coldstorage" will be used. In contrast to simple decision tasks, these computer simulations about forest fires and a broken coldstorage are more realistic and related to daily life. In decision-making studies, computer simulations have proved to be systematic, fruitful, and productive methods for data gathering. The data from the simulations will be collected in individual sessions, saved on computer files and videotapes, and then analyzed. From a theoretical model, specific hypotheses will be derived on how decision-making strategies will vary according to different cultural value orientations. The model will then be tested with structural equation modeling. Besides the theoretical merit, results of this study will also have relevance to the field of applied psychology. Findings can be incorporated in educational training programs for strategic thinking and dynamic decision making as well as for training programs in intercultural competence and sensitivity. Implications and relevance for research, training, and practice will be addressed.