Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
4
Defining Decision Theory
Decision theory seems, by its name, to be a fairly straightforward concept. At
first blush, it would seem to be the theory of making decisions. While that
is technically correct, these waters are deceptively deep and even a bit turbid.
The notion of what actually constitutes a decision is sometimes called into question
—which doesn't make it any simpler to advance a theory about it.
Regardless of what we settle on as a definition of
decision
, there are plenty of
theories about not only the “right� way to come to one, but also theories on why
humans and other such decision-making entities often fail miserably to make that
right decision.
There are a couple of different subdivisions of the larger umbrella of decision
theory. The primary one is the area of
normative
or
prescriptive
decisions. Think
of this as relating to what is normal or should be prescribed in the situation—that is,
what
should
be done given the facts. Facts are (in fact) a
requirement
of normative
decision theory. The only way a decision that should be made can be determined
with such certainty is with certain assumptions in place (Figure 4.1). The decision
maker:
Has
all
of the relevant information available
Is able to
perceive
the information with the accuracy needed
Is able to perfectly
perform
all the calculations necessary to apply those facts
Is perfectly
rational
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