TY - JOUR
T1 - Formalising theories of human decision-making for agent-based modelling of social-ecological systems: practical lessons learned and ways forward
AU - Schwarz, N.
AU - Dressler, Gunnar
AU - Frank, Karin
AU - Jager, Wander
AU - Janssen, Marco A.
AU - Müller, Birgit
AU - Schlüter, Maja
AU - Wijermans, Nanda
AU - Groeneveld, Jürgen
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - Incorporating representations of human decision-making that are based on social science theories into social-ecological models is considered increasingly important – yet choosing and formalising a theory for a particular modelling context remains challenging. Here, we reflect on our experiences of selecting, formalising and documenting psychological and economic theories of human decision-making for inclusion in different agent-based models (ABMs) of natural resource use. We discuss the challenges related to four critical tasks: How to select a theory? How to formalise a theory and how to translate it into code? How to document the formalisation? In this way, we present a systematic overview of the choices researchers face when including theories of human decision-making in their ABMs, reflect on the choices we made in our own modelling projects and provide guidance for those new to the field. Also, we highlight further challenges regarding the parameterisation and analysis of such ABMs and suggest that a systematic overview of how to tackle these challenges contributes to an effective collaboration in interdisciplinary teams addressing socio-ecological dynamics using models.
AB - Incorporating representations of human decision-making that are based on social science theories into social-ecological models is considered increasingly important – yet choosing and formalising a theory for a particular modelling context remains challenging. Here, we reflect on our experiences of selecting, formalising and documenting psychological and economic theories of human decision-making for inclusion in different agent-based models (ABMs) of natural resource use. We discuss the challenges related to four critical tasks: How to select a theory? How to formalise a theory and how to translate it into code? How to document the formalisation? In this way, we present a systematic overview of the choices researchers face when including theories of human decision-making in their ABMs, reflect on the choices we made in our own modelling projects and provide guidance for those new to the field. Also, we highlight further challenges regarding the parameterisation and analysis of such ABMs and suggest that a systematic overview of how to tackle these challenges contributes to an effective collaboration in interdisciplinary teams addressing socio-ecological dynamics using models.
KW - ITC-GOLD
UR - https://ezproxy2.utwente.nl/login?url=https://library.itc.utwente.nl/login/2020/ref/schwarz_for.pdf
U2 - 10.18174/sesmo.2020a16340
DO - 10.18174/sesmo.2020a16340
M3 - Article
VL - 2
SP - 1
EP - 25
JO - Socio-Environmental Systems Modelling
JF - Socio-Environmental Systems Modelling
SN - 2663-3027
ER -