This document is a dissertation submitted by Nicholas Edwards to King's College London investigating considerations for incorporating chance and uncertainty in wargames used for military education and training. It includes sections on chance and uncertainty as concepts in war and games, developing the wargame model and decision-making environment, and player reactions to chance and uncertainty in both the model and its presentation. The goal is to understand how to align the theoretical needs of incorporating chance with practical impacts on players in order to meet the training objectives of the game.
2. The author of this report may be contacted via either:
nicholas@nced.eu
or
nicholas.edwards@bisimulations.com
3. Nicholas Edwards – MA War Studies – Dissertation
1
DECLARATION:
This dissertation is the sole work of the author, and has not been accepted in any
previous application for a degree; all quotations and sources of information have been
acknowledged.
I confirm that my research [x] did or did not [ ] require ethical approval.
KCL/13/14-54 - What considerations exist in the design of the element of chance in wargames
utilised for training purposes?
I am pleased to inform you that full approval for your project has been granted by the WSG Research
Ethics Panel. Any specific conditions of approval are laid out at the end of this letter which should be
followed in addition to the standard terms and conditions of approval, to be overseen by your
Supervisor:
o Ethical approval is granted for a period of one year from 21st January 2014. You will not
receive a reminder that your approval is about to lapse so it is your responsibility to apply for
an extension prior to the project lapsing if you need one (see below for instructions).
I confirm that all research records (e.g. interview data and consent records) will be held
securely for the required period of time and then destroyed in accordance with College
guidelines. (The department will assume responsibility for this if you send your research
records to the Senior Programme Officer Panagiotis Stasinopoulos.) [x] Yes
Signed: Nicholas Edwards Date: 27 August 2014