MINTZ, Alex  <br/><br/>
The effect of dynamic and static choice sets on political decision making :  an analysis using the decision board platform 

 - New York, NY :  Cambridge University Press,  September 1997 
<br/><br/> In this article, we address several specific questions: Do national security decision makers change decision strategies during foreign policy crises? If so, do they switch from an alternative-based search to a dimension-based search or vice versa? What are some of the factors that influence the change in decision strategy during a foreign policy crisis? What is the effect of strategy on choice? To answer these questions we use a new research technology - the Foreign Policy Decision Board "process tracer" - in a study of U.S. Air Force commanders. We first introduce the poliheuristic theory of decision, which provides a theoretical framework and guide for assessing the effect of changes in a choice set on strategy selection and choice. We then describe the Foreign Policy Decision Board. Finally, we report results based on a test of the board with top-ranking Air Force officers.