TEACHING MANAGEMENT RESEARCH THROUGH COMPUTER SIMULATION


Computer Simulation and Learning Theory, Volume 3, 1976 

 526 

Teaching Management Research Through 

 

Computer Simulation 

 

by 

 

Dr. Arthur Whatley 

Associate Professor of Management 

New Mexico State University 

 

 

Exxon Education Foundation funds two types of education innovation programs. The first is a major 

funding to support the design, development and implementation of an education innovation. Once an 

innovation is fully developed and functioning Exxon then funds small (not to exceed $6, 000) 

implementation grants. The author has received a grant to implement a program called Exper Sim or 

Experimental Simulation. 

In general, Exper Sim entails using the computer to teach research methods, design and procedures. 

Without the aid of computers research courses usually involve the student designing a research project at 

the beginning of a semester and then spending the retaining time collecting and analyzing data. As a result 

the student is able to complete only one research project in a given semester. 

Exper Sim charges the traditional way of carrying out a research project. It does so by modeling in 

the computer all the pertinent variables and data associated with a particular topic. The student formulates 

research hypotheses but does not have to go into the field or laboratory to collect the data first hand. He 

simply enters his requests for specific data into the computer and receives instantaneous output. Time is 

thus created for statistically treating the data, and more importantly, for formulating additional 

hypotheses. In short, Exper Sim allows the student to complete many research projects in a given semester 

instead of just one. 



Computer Simulation and Learning Theory, Volume 3, 1976 

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Currently, the models available in the management area are: (1) a motivation model and (2) a job 

satisfaction model. Each model contains the relevant variables (as determined by the literature on the 

topic) and the data output is designed to reflect the accepted state of knowledge regarding the variable(s) 

in question. Therefore, the student is able to: (1) explore the relationships between relevant variables 

without going through the time consuming data collection process and (2) to explore different ways of 

designing research projects.