MULTIMEDIA ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION-MAKING SIMULATION

A Hypercard-based computer simulation is described here that allows te sting and projections about decision making in commons dilemmas. Altho ugh the program applies to many different types of value tradeoffs, it focuses on issues related to the harvesting (and overharvesting) of n atural resources. In particular, it uses the Atlantic fisheries to loo k at conflicts between satisfying immediate needs and protecting long- term sustainability. The program's calculations and projections are ba sed on variables including fish stocks, replenishment rate, average ho usehold expenses, value per ton of fish, amount of fishing per year, n umber of competitors, harvesting strategy of competing decision makers , actual fish caught per year, yearly income, and the levels of harves ting that would maintain a sustainable level of the resource. The mult imedia interface includes on-screen movies, moving graphs of results, still photos, cartoon animation, and audio inst ructions. This simulat ion program provides an engaging way of collecting data on decision ma king in social dilemmas and is also well suited to public/educational presentations.