The Tailorshop Simulation
The "Tailorshop" is a computer-based dynamic decision making scenario that has been used in research on decision-making and complex problem solving with a broad range of research questions. To date, this has included studying the basic problem solving process, cultural differences, the role of intelligence, effects of emotion, relation to professional performance, and the general suitability of Tailorshop as a psychometric test (please refer to the publication list below for further details). Currently more work is carried out to investigate more closely the role of emotional and cognitive self-regulation in the problem-solving process with clinical groups, such as patients with schizophrenia or borderline personality disorder. On this website you will find a recent implementation of the Tailorshop simulation, which is freely available for non-commercial scientific use, as well as supporting materials.
In the simulation scenario participants take the role of a manager of a small company that produces shirts. The goals is to lead this company as successfully as possible for twelve simulated months by influencing variables such as number of machines and workers, buying raw materials or investing in shops and advertising (see figure below). After the simulation various performance measures can be calculated from the detailed log file produced by the simulation software. The recommended scoring algorithm and the psychometric properties of the test are documented in Danner et al. (2011). If you use Tailorshop in your research, please consider citing this paper as a reference. If you have problems with installing or running the simulation or general questions, please contact Daniel Holt, who currently maintains the software.
Reference article
Danner, D., Hagemann, D., Holt, D.V., Hager, M., Schankin, A., Wüstenberg. S. and Funke, J. (in press). Measuring Performance in Dynamic Decision Making: Reliability and Validity of the Tailorshop Simulation. Journal of Individual Differences. Link to Pdf (forthcoming)Screenshot
Studies using the Tailorshop
Barth, C.M., & Funke, J. (2010). Negative affective environments improve complex solving performance. Cognition and Emotion, 24, 1259–1268.
Wittmann, W., & Hattrup, K. (2004). The relationship between performance in dynamic systems and intelligence. Systems Re- search and Behavioral Science, 21, 393–409.
Süß, H.-M., Kersting, M., & Oberauer, K. (1993). Zur Vorhersage von Steuerungsleistungen an computersimulierten Systemen durch Wissen und Intelligenz. Zeitschrift für Differentielle und Diagnostische Psychologie, 14, 189–203.
Putz-Osterloh, W., Bott, B., & Köster, K. (1990). Modes of learning in problem solving: Are they transferable to tutorial systems? Computers in Human Behavior, 6, 83–96.
Putz-Osterloh, W. (1981). Über die Beziehung zwischen Testintelligenz und Problemlöseerfolg. Zeitschrift für Psychologie mit Zeitschrift für Angewandte Psychologie, 189, 79–100.
Putz-Osterloh, W., & Lüer, G. (1981). The predictability of complex problem solving by performance on an intelligence test. Zeitschrift für Experimentelle und Angewandte Psychologie, 28, 309–334.
Download
Link to (German) online-version of Tailorshop - A quick way to try out the simulation. Just enter anything for "Session ID". This version includes an extended task information system, which was not used in Danner et al. (2011)
Download German version - As described in Danner et al. (2011). (forthcoming)
Download English version - Translation of the German version described in Danner et al. (2011) (forthcoming)