IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/simgam/v44y2013i6p846-868.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Formation of Novice Business Students’ Mental Models Through Simulation Gaming

Author

Listed:
  • Lauri-Matti Palmunen
  • Elina Pelto
  • Anni Paalumäki
  • Timo Lainema

Abstract

Studies on students’ perceptions of learning in business simulations often suggest that students like simulations and view them more positively than both lectures and case discussions. However, research on the actual learning outcomes deriving from participating in business simulations still needs to be pursued. Consequently, the purpose of this case-study article is to examine how a business simulation game contributes to the cognitive learning of novices in business studies. We describe the use of a clock-driven business simulation for teaching 133 novices in business studies at the University of Turku, Finland. The students’ cognitive learning was evaluated based on data generated by pre- and post-game concept map tests designed to illustrate the formation and change of mental models during the simulation course. The results of this study suggest that simulation games can provide a solid basis for novice learning. They help to increase comprehension of the complexity of business organizations and the various processes, transactions, and operations involved.

Suggested Citation

  • Lauri-Matti Palmunen & Elina Pelto & Anni Paalumäki & Timo Lainema, 2013. "Formation of Novice Business Students’ Mental Models Through Simulation Gaming," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 44(6), pages 846-868, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:simgam:v:44:y:2013:i:6:p:846-868
    DOI: 10.1177/1046878113513532
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1046878113513532
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/1046878113513532?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:simgam:v:44:y:2013:i:6:p:846-868. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.