Individually and as research partners, Simon and Newell studied the way people solve problems. They developed computer programs that used human strategies for decision making. Designing these programs led to important theories in cognitive psychology - the study of think (cognition).
The work of Simon and Newell inspired advancements in cognitive theory and computer science at Carnegie Mellon and at universities worldwide. Allen Newell was awarded the National Medal of Science in 1992. Herbert A. Simon's wide ranging knowledge in several fields of study was recognized in his 1978 Nobel Prize in Economics.