Table 2 Meta-heuristics Number... | Emerald Publishing

Table 2

Meta-heuristics

Number	Meta-heuristic
1	To study behavior, focus on describing a toolbox of heuristics and their respective environments, rather than on taking a one-size-fits all approach
2	Develop models that allow understanding which blades fit to each other, that is, when decision makers rely on which tool in their repertoire as a function of their environment
3	To describe environments in which a given heuristic is operating, spell out in as much detail as possible the heuristic, that is, precisely specify/define the heuristic under consideration
4	To describe heuristics which are successful in a given environment, spell out in as much detail as possible the environment, that is, precisely specify/define the environment under consideration
5	Engage in micro-level systems-thinking. To study a heuristic, investigate how it nestles into other components of cognition (e.g. memory, perception) as well as how the resulting cognitive system emerges by interacting with the external environment
6	Engage in macro-level systems-thinking. To study a heuristic, investigate how it interplays with the behavior of other actors
7	To study discovery, investigate how different heuristics for discovery interplay with each other and the structure of research environments
8	Those who want to study heuristics and environments need to collaborate with actors beyond their own disciplinary field. To do this, broad readings of heuristics and environments need to be developed that can cut across disciplines
9	When studying heuristics and environments, interview experienced practitioners working in different, seemingly unrelated professions. Across these professions, inquire to what extent the same heuristics are used for decision-making
10	To better understand a heuristic, write articles that try to trace it and its environment across different fields
11	As you are reading, running studies, analyzing models, or just going through daily life, note candidate heuristics that you come across on a list, to be used for future in-depth inquiry
12	In order to learn about heuristics and environments, be curious and open: Serendipity, systematic research, multiple sources and tools for inquiry all enable discovery
13	Search for, listen to – and ideally collaborate with – researchers who might disagree with you

Number	Meta-heuristic
1	To study behavior, focus on describing a toolbox of heuristics and their respective environments, rather than on taking a one-size-fits all approach
2	Develop models that allow understanding which blades fit to each other, that is, when decision makers rely on which tool in their repertoire as a function of their environment
3	To describe environments in which a given heuristic is operating, spell out in as much detail as possible the heuristic, that is, precisely specify/define the heuristic under consideration
4	To describe heuristics which are successful in a given environment, spell out in as much detail as possible the environment, that is, precisely specify/define the environment under consideration
5	Engage in micro-level systems-thinking. To study a heuristic, investigate how it nestles into other components of cognition (e.g. memory, perception) as well as how the resulting cognitive system emerges by interacting with the external environment
6	Engage in macro-level systems-thinking. To study a heuristic, investigate how it interplays with the behavior of other actors
7	To study discovery, investigate how different heuristics for discovery interplay with each other and the structure of research environments
8	Those who want to study heuristics and environments need to collaborate with actors beyond their own disciplinary field. To do this, broad readings of heuristics and environments need to be developed that can cut across disciplines
9	When studying heuristics and environments, interview experienced practitioners working in different, seemingly unrelated professions. Across these professions, inquire to what extent the same heuristics are used for decision-making
10	To better understand a heuristic, write articles that try to trace it and its environment across different fields
11	As you are reading, running studies, analyzing models, or just going through daily life, note candidate heuristics that you come across on a list, to be used for future in-depth inquiry
12	In order to learn about heuristics and environments, be curious and open: Serendipity, systematic research, multiple sources and tools for inquiry all enable discovery
13	Search for, listen to – and ideally collaborate with – researchers who might disagree with you

Note(s): For further discussion of meta-heuristics 8, 12 and 13, see Katsikopoulos et al. (2024)

Source(s): Authors’ elaboration