Theory for and from agent-based modelling: Insights from a virtual special issue and a vision

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Volker Grimm - , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, University of Potsdam (Author)
  • Uta Berger - , Chair of Forest Biometrics and Systems Analysis (Author)
  • Matthias Meyer - , Hamburg University of Technology (Author)
  • Iris Lorscheid - , University of Europe for Applied Sciences (Author)

Abstract

The Virtual Special Issue “Agents for Theory” discusses theory development using agent-based models (ABMs). The six contributions focus on how the word “theory” is used in the ABM literature, how reviews of ABMs should be conducted to gain general insights, how even the conceptualisation of ABMs can help to transform heuristic theories into scientific ones, how the context-dependent choice of decision models can be better justified, how reusable building blocks (RBBs) of ABMs could support theory development, and how a modular framework of RBBs can be used to identify general solutions. Overall, theories of decision making that go into ABMs and theories of system dynamics that come out of ABMs are interrelated, so the micro-macro perspective and the attempt to identify and reproduce patterns at both levels simultaneously is a way forward. Theory development requires clearer communication using a common language, reference to patterns, and more detailed model analysis and testing.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number106088
JournalEnvironmental Modelling and Software
Volume178
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0001-6920-136X/work/171065337

Keywords

Keywords

  • Agent-based modelling, Best practices, Complex adaptive systems, Individual-based modelling, Pattern, Software engineering, Theory development