The Commons Game

Abstract

The COMMONS GAME was used in combination with lectures and discussion sessions to teach 19 university students the complexities and frustrations of managing commons property natural resources. On completion of the course, data from students' opinions of instruction, observations made during a postlecture/postgame analysis session, and a content analysis of students' essays were used to describe the extent to which the game provided a valuable instructional experience. The results provide evidence that the COMMONS GAME is a valuable teaching tool when used in a natural resources management context if special instructional considerations, designed to reinforce resource management concepts and techniques, are adequately addressed.

Keywords

COMMONS GAME commons resources conservation education environmental education games natural resources management public participation simulation

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Bennett, C. F. (1983). Conservation and management of natural resources in the United States. New York: Wiley.

Cutter, S. L. , Renwick, H. L. , & Renwick, W. H. (1985). Exploitation, conservation, preservation: A geographic perspective on natural resource use. Totowa, NJ: Rowman & Allanheld.

Haefele, E. T. (Ed.). (1974). The governance of common property resources. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.

Hardin, G. J. (1968). The tragedy of the commons. Science, 162, 1243-1248.

Hardin, G. J. , & Baden, J. (Eds.). (1977). Managing the commons. San Francisco: Freeman.

Powers, R. B. (1985-1986). The COMMONS GAME: Teaching students about social dilemmas. Journal of Environmental Education, 17(1), 4-10.

Powers, R. B. (1987). Bringing the commons into a large university classroom. Simulation and Games: An International Journal, 18, 443-457.

Powers, R. B. , & Boyle, W. (1983). Generalization from a commons-dilemma game: The effects of a fine option, information, and communication on cooperation and defection. Simulation and Games: An International Journal, 14, 253-274.

Powers, R. B. , Duus, R. E. , & Norton, R. S. (1983). The COMMONS GAME. Unpublished research manuscript. Utah State University, Logan.

10.

Tuckman, B. W. (1978). Conducting educational research. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.