IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/sysdyn/v40y2024i4ne1765.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Participatory modeling for high complexity, multi‐system issues: challenges and recommendations for balancing qualitative understanding and quantitative questions

Author

Listed:
  • Arielle R. Deutsch
  • Leah Frerichs
  • Madeleine Perry
  • Mohammad S. Jalali

Abstract

Community stakeholder participation can be incredibly valuable for the qualitative model development process. However, modelers often encounter challenges for participatory modeling projects focusing on high‐complexity, synergistic interactions between multiple issues, systems, and granularity. The diverse stakeholder perspectives and volumes of information necessary for developing such models can yield qualitative models that are difficult to translate into quantitative simulation or clear insight for informed decision‐making. There are few recommended best practices for developing high‐complexity, participatory models. We use an ongoing project as a case study to highlight three practical challenges for tackling high‐complexity, multi‐system issues with system dynamics tools. These challenges include balanced and respectful stakeholder engagement, defining boundaries and levels of variable aggregation, and timing and processes for qualitative/quantitative model integration. Our five recommendations to address these challenges serve as a foundation for further research on methods for developing translatable qualitative multi‐system models for informing actions for systemic change. © 2024 System Dynamics Society.

Suggested Citation

  • Arielle R. Deutsch & Leah Frerichs & Madeleine Perry & Mohammad S. Jalali, 2024. "Participatory modeling for high complexity, multi‐system issues: challenges and recommendations for balancing qualitative understanding and quantitative questions," System Dynamics Review, System Dynamics Society, vol. 40(4), October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:sysdyn:v:40:y:2024:i:4:n:e1765
    DOI: 10.1002/sdr.1765
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/sdr.1765
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/sdr.1765?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hassan Abdelbari & Kamran Shafi, 2017. "A computational Intelligence-based Method to ‘Learn’ Causal Loop Diagram-like Structures from Observed Data," System Dynamics Review, System Dynamics Society, vol. 33(1), pages 3-33, January.
    2. Jack Homer, 2014. "Levels of evidence in system dynamics modeling," System Dynamics Review, System Dynamics Society, vol. 30(1-2), pages 75-80, January.
    3. Emily Ryan & Matthew Pepper & Albert Munoz, 2021. "Causal Loop Diagram Aggregation Towards Model Completeness," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 34(1), pages 37-51, February.
    4. Sydelko, Pamela & Midgley, Gerald & Espinosa, Angela, 2021. "Designing interagency responses to wicked problems: Creating a common, cross-agency understanding," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 294(1), pages 250-263.
    5. Jack Homer, 2019. "Best practices in system dynamics modeling, revisited: a practitioner's view," System Dynamics Review, System Dynamics Society, vol. 35(2), pages 177-181, April.
    6. Margaret R Weeks & David W Lounsbury & Jianghong Li & Gary Hirsch & Marcie Berman & Helena D Green & Lucy Rohena & Rosely Gonzalez & Jairo M Montezuma-Rusca & Seja Jackson, 2020. "Simulating system dynamics of the HIV care continuum to achieve treatment as prevention," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(3), pages 1-22, March.
    7. Krystyna Stave, 2010. "Participatory System Dynamics Modeling for Sustainable Environmental Management: Observations from Four Cases," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 2(9), pages 1-23, September.
    8. Mohammadreza Zolfagharian & A. Georges L. Romme & Bob Walrave, 2018. "Why, when, and how to combine system dynamics with other methods: Towards an evidence-based framework," Journal of Simulation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(2), pages 98-114, April.
    9. Vincent de Gooyert, 2019. "Developing dynamic organizational theories; three system dynamics based research strategies," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 53(2), pages 653-666, March.
    10. Rouwette, Etiënne & van Kranenburg, Hans & Freeman, Edward, 2017. "Reviewing the role of stakeholders in Operational Research: A stakeholder theory perspectiveAuthor-Name: de Gooyert, Vincent," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 262(2), pages 402-410.
    11. Louise Freebairn & Jo-An Atkinson & Nathaniel D Osgood & Paul M Kelly & Geoff McDonnell & Lucie Rychetnik, 2019. "Turning conceptual systems maps into dynamic simulation models: An Australian case study for diabetes in pregnancy," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(6), pages 1-27, June.
    12. John Sterman, 2018. "System dynamics at sixty: the path forward," System Dynamics Review, System Dynamics Society, vol. 34(1-2), pages 5-47, January.
    13. Edward B. Roberts, 1977. "Strategies for Effective Implementation of Complex Corporate Models," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 8(1), pages 26-33, November.
    14. Gábor Király & Péter Miskolczi, 2019. "Dynamics of participation: System dynamics and participation—An empirical review," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(2), pages 199-210, March.
    15. Negar Darabi & Niyousha Hosseinichimeh, 2020. "System dynamics modeling in health and medicine: a systematic literature review," System Dynamics Review, System Dynamics Society, vol. 36(1), pages 29-73, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Henry Amorocho‐Daza & Pieter van der Zaag & Janez Sušnik, 2024. "Ethical considerations of using system dynamics in participatory settings: a social‐ecological‐systems perspective," System Dynamics Review, System Dynamics Society, vol. 40(2), April.
    2. Ellis Ballard & Kelsey Werner & Pratiti Priyadarshini, 2021. "Boundary objects in translation: the role of language in participatory system dynamics modeling," System Dynamics Review, System Dynamics Society, vol. 37(4), pages 310-332, October.
    3. Amorocho-Daza, Henry & Sušnik, Janez & van der Zaag, Pieter & Slinger, Jill H., 2025. "A model-based policy analysis framework for social-ecological systems: Integrating uncertainty and participation in system dynamics modelling," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 499(C).
    4. Claire F. Brereton & Paul Jagals, 2021. "Applications of Systems Science to Understand and Manage Multiple Influences within Children’s Environmental Health in Least Developed Countries: A Causal Loop Diagram Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-23, March.
    5. George P. Richardson, 2024. "Building confidence in exploratory models," System Dynamics Review, System Dynamics Society, vol. 40(4), October.
    6. Eduard Romanenko & Jack Homer & Nanna Lien, 2023. "As simple as possible but not simpler: structural sensitivity testing of a dynamic model of adolescent overweight and obesity," System Dynamics Review, System Dynamics Society, vol. 39(2), pages 125-139, April.
    7. Irene Pluchinotta & Ke Zhou & Nici Zimmermann, 2024. "Dealing with soft variables and data scarcity: lessons learnt from quantification in a participatory system dynamics modelling process," System Dynamics Review, System Dynamics Society, vol. 40(4), October.
    8. Duggan, Jim & Andrade, Jair & Murphy, Thomas Brendan & Gleeson, James P. & Walsh, Cathal & Nolan, Philip, 2024. "An age-cohort simulation model for generating COVID-19 scenarios: A study from Ireland's pandemic response," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 313(1), pages 343-358.
    9. Navid Ghaffarzadegan & Aritra Majumdar & Ross Williams & Niyousha Hosseinichimeh, 2024. "Generative agent‐based modeling: an introduction and tutorial," System Dynamics Review, System Dynamics Society, vol. 40(1), January.
    10. Navid Ghaffarzadegan & Hazhir Rahmandad, 2020. "Simulation‐based estimation of the early spread of COVID‐19 in Iran: actual versus confirmed cases," System Dynamics Review, System Dynamics Society, vol. 36(1), pages 101-129, January.
    11. Liang Liu & Cong Feng & Hongwei Zhang & Xuehua Zhang, 2015. "Game Analysis and Simulation of the River Basin Sustainable Development Strategy Integrating Water Emission Trading," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(5), pages 1-21, April.
    12. James D. A. Millington & Hang Xiong & Steve Peterson & Jeremy Woods, 2017. "Integrating Modelling Approaches for Understanding Telecoupling: Global Food Trade and Local Land Use," Land, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-18, August.
    13. Michele Preziosi & Roberto Merli & Mara D’Amico, 2016. "Why Companies Do Not Renew Their EMAS Registration? An Exploratory Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-11, February.
    14. Francis Marleau Donais & Irène Abi-Zeid & E. Owen D. Waygood & Roxane Lavoie, 2021. "A Framework for Post-Project Evaluation of Multicriteria Decision Aiding Processes from the Stakeholders’ Perspective: Design and Application," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 30(5), pages 1161-1191, October.
    15. Jiangbo Yu, 2022. "An elementary mechanism for simultaneously modeling discrete decisions and decision times," System Dynamics Review, System Dynamics Society, vol. 38(3), pages 215-245, July.
    16. Florian Kapmeier, 2020. "Reflections on developing a simulation model on sustainable and healthy diets for decision makers: Comment on the paper by Kopainsky," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(6), pages 928-935, November.
    17. Martin Unger & Tobia Lakes, 2023. "Land Use Conflicts and Synergies on Agricultural Land in Brandenburg, Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-19, March.
    18. Gürsan, C. & de Gooyert, V., 2021. "The systemic impact of a transition fuel: Does natural gas help or hinder the energy transition?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    19. Salim, H.K. & Stewart, R.A. & Sahin, O. & Dudley, M., 2020. "Systems approach to end-of-life management of residential photovoltaic panels and battery energy storage system in Australia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    20. Schembri, Joe & Tang, Yee Kwan & Fletcher, Margaret & Dimitratos, Pavlos, 2019. "How do European trade promotion organisations manage their stakeholders?," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(6), pages 1-1.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:sysdyn:v:40:y:2024:i:4:n:e1765. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/0883-7066 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.