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Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 12:56:36 -0500
From: Susan Dorr Goold <sgoold@umich.edu>
Subject: data collection during a game
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A colleague and i are trying to develop a "game" (also called a
simulation or policy exercise) and are concerned about how to collect
data from it.  There would be between 6 and 12 participants, alot of
simultaneous dialogue (we hope) and results at various stages of the
group's choices.  It asks them to allocate limited resources between
competing needs so their allocation choices are relevant, and perhaps
the easiest to observe/document.  But we are also interested in how they
arrive at those choices - what are their justifications or reasons, and
how do they negotiate among themselves.  My initial thought is to have
audiotaping (perhaps more than one recorder), notetakers who have been
trained to document reasons/justifications and group
dynamics/negotiation, and photos or other visual documentation of
choices at various stages of the game.  I'd be interested in hearing how
others might have handled similar ventures, or in any ideas from those
of you more experienced at data collection from groups where there may
be simultaneous conversation.

Susan Dorr Goold
University of Michigan