Guidelines for the design of information presentation formats in computer-based decision support systems (DSS) are developed. The contingent relationship between decision strategies and the structure of the decision environment provides a framework for analyzing the impact of DSS design alternatives on different decision strategies. The cognitive costs and benefits of different display formats are evaluated, particularly with respect to the cognitive effort required to implement various decision strategies and the accuracy of the resulting decision. Simulation techniques are used to provide specific predictions of how changes in DSS design will influence behavior. Experimental observations of decision behavior are used to validate the analysis. The significance of this line of research is two-fold: First, the results can provide guidance to researchers and practitioners interested in the design and implementation of computer- based decision aids, ultimately improving the effectiveness of those aids. Second, this research provides an extension of an area of basic research on the psychology of decision making into an important applied domain.
