| Description |
The purpose of this honors thesis is to demonstrate how a computer rational decision model could drastically improve the ability of a voter to make a well informed vote. To do this, my associate Julie L. Thurston, and I have conducted an exploratory pilot study which uses a rational decision computer model, designed by Gerald W. Smith and Jerry D. Debenham, called Votesim. The method of presentation that I will use in this thesis is as follows: first, I will give a brief background of voting behavior in our society; second, I will briefly explain the rationale on which the Votesim rational decision computer model is based; third, I will review the pilot study we conducted which used the Votesim computer model; fourth, I will explain the results of that study; fifth, I will discuss some conclusions which I feel the study suggests; and sixth, I will discuss some future implications from the wide use of the Votesim computer model. |
