Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
3
Represent behaviour
and processes
Model design
Implementation
4
Test hypotheses
via what-if scenarios
Observations
and assumptions
2
Simulation
results
How plausible is the model?
Evidence
1
5
Data collection
and analysis
Validation and replication
Social phenomena
If needed, update representations
New knowledge?
Fig. 1.
Evidence-Driven Approach to Modelling (EDAM) [Lucas, 2011]
3. To design an ABSS based on the scrutinised evidence, which at this stage has
been verified by stakeholders
4
, one shall then differentiate what is essential
to be in the model from what is contextual data about the phenomena. The
latter comprises much more than the former, thus caution must be observed.
4. Deciding how to implement agent behaviour and processes is entirely up to
the modellers, as no evidence favours any particular computational paradigm.
Most approaches nowadays use object-orientation due to the relative ease of
representing behavioural features in simplified, self-contained threads.
5. Having a feasible model built with guidance of evidence, modellers can pro-
ceed to test hypotheses using scenarios that resemble observations. Results
are then compared to evidence and, to strengthen validation and knowledge
development, findings should ideally be discussed with domain experts.
3 Adapting the Ethnographic Decision Tree Model
An Ethnographic Decision Tree Model (EDTM) is the result of a systematic,
mainly qualitative, methodology for building a model of decisions that are taken
by a specific cohort -where the research process is driven by the data collected
from the surveyed subjects themselves, rather than the researcher hypotheses
[Gladwin, 1989]. An EDTM requires therefore an approach to development that
begins with the researcher selecting the decision-making context. As it can be
observed in the figure below, the original EDTM combines the ethnographic
research cycle with a linear plan for hypothesis testing. It also does suggest
the setup an ethnographic database, which shall contain both quantitative and
qualitative information. The intention is for these resources so to become the
4
I.e., the data can serve both to verify and justify how the ABSS has been built.
