IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/envirb/v11y1984i3p263-277.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Validation of Models of Complex Systems

Author

Listed:
  • J-M Choukroun

    (Social Systems Sciences Department, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA)

Abstract

This paper begins with a short review of various approaches to validation proposed in the modeling literature. It then discusses three alternative views of models: (1) the concept of model in mathematical logic, (2) the conventional (empiricist) view of models in the social sciences, and (3) an alternative view that sees models as the products of metaphor construction and interpretation. This third view leads to the identification of four different areas in model validation: (1) evaluation of adequacy of metaphors, (2) observation, measurement, and experimentation, (3) internal validation, and (4) external validation. The process of external validation proposed here recognizes that models are inherently partial, incomplete, and somewhat idiosyncratic and need to be confronted and compared with each other to produce new insights collectively.

Suggested Citation

  • J-M Choukroun, 1984. "The Validation of Models of Complex Systems," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 11(3), pages 263-277, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirb:v:11:y:1984:i:3:p:263-277
    DOI: 10.1068/b110263
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1068/b110263
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1068/b110263?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. Charles K. Wilber & Robert S. Harrison, 1978. "The Methodological Basis of Institutional Economics: Pattern Model, Storytelling, and Holism," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(1), pages 61-89, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Paul Timms, 2008. "Transport models, philosophy and language," Transportation, Springer, vol. 35(3), pages 395-410, May.

    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. Gasper, D.R., 2007. "Problem- and policy-analysis for human development," ISS Working Papers - General Series 18743, International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS), The Hague.
    2. John Harvey, 2004. "Capital Flows and Trade in Mexico: A Model of Institutional Dynamics," Working Papers 200401, Texas Christian University, Department of Economics.
    3. Gomes, Sharlene L. & Hermans, Leon M. & Thissen, Wil A.H., 2018. "Extending community operational research to address institutional aspects of societal problems: Experiences from peri-urban Bangladesh," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 268(3), pages 904-917.
    4. John Gowdy, 1993. "Economic selection and the role of government: Some lessons from evolutionary biology," Forum for Social Economics, Springer;The Association for Social Economics, vol. 22(2), pages 61-70, March.
    5. Gräbner, Claudius, 2015. "Formal Approaches to Socio Economic Policy Analysis - Past and Perspectives," MPRA Paper 61348, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Akimowicz, Mikaël & Del Corso, Jean-Pierre & Gallai, Nicola & Képhaliacos, Charilaos, 2022. "The leader, the keeper, and the follower? A legitimacy perspective on the governance of varietal innovation systems for climate changes adaptation. The case of sunflower hybrids in France," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    7. Eduardo Fernández-Huerga & Ana Pardo & Ana Salvador, 2023. "Compatibility and complementarity between institutional and post-Keynesian economics: a literature review with a particular focus on methodology," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 40(2), pages 413-443, July.
    8. Soderbaum, P, 1990. "Neoclassical and Institutional Approaches to Agriculture, Environment and Development," 1990 Symposium, Agricultural Restructuring in Southern Africa, July 24-27, 1990, Swakopmund, Namibia 183532, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    9. Claudius Gräbner & Jakob Kapeller, 2015. "New Perspectives on Institutionalist Pattern Modeling: Systemism, Complexity, and Agent-Based Modeling," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(2), pages 433-440, April.
    10. Devlin, Robert & Mortimore, Michael, 1983. "Bancos transnacionales, el Estado y el endeudamiento externo en Bolivia," Series Históricas 7905, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL).
    11. Gräbner, Claudius, 2016. "Agent-based computational models– a formal heuristic for institutionalist pattern modelling?," Journal of Institutional Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 12(1), pages 241-261, March.
    12. Groenewegen, John, 2022. "Institutional form (blueprints) and institutional function (process): Theoretical reflections on property rights and land," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    13. Alexandre Chirat, 2021. "When Berle and Galbraith brought political economy back to life : Study of a cross-fertilization (1933-1967)," EconomiX Working Papers 2021-27, University of Paris Nanterre, EconomiX.
    14. Charles J. Whalen (ed.), 2011. "Financial Instability and Economic Security after the Great Recession," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 14489.
    15. Damien Talbot, 1998. "The institutional dynamics at the origin of a new method of local administration: The relationship between AEROSPATIALE and its subcontractors," ERSA conference papers ersa98p197, European Regional Science Association.
    16. Charles J. Whalen, 2011. "The future of Post-Keynesian Institutionalism," Chapters, in: Charles J. Whalen (ed.), Financial Instability and Economic Security after the Great Recession, chapter 10, pages 205-210, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    17. Backeberg, G.R., 2004. "Research management of water economics in agriculture - an open agenda," Agrekon, Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), vol. 43(3), pages 1-18, September.
    18. A. Zarifah & A.K. Siti-Nabiha, 2012. "Analysing accounting and organisational change: the theoretical development," International Journal of Managerial and Financial Accounting, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 4(1), pages 29-46.
    19. Schnell, John F., 1979. "Collective Bargaining and Market Structure in Bituminous Coal: Three Stages of Evolutionary Relations," Miscellaneous Series 257749, Pennsylvania State University.
    20. Gonzalo Ordoñez & Alejandro Hernández & Carolina Hernández & Carolina Méndez, 2009. "Análisis bibliométrico de la Revista de Economía Institucional en sus primeros diez años," Revista de Economía Institucional, Universidad Externado de Colombia - Facultad de Economía, vol. 11(20), pages 309-353, January-J.

    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:sae:envirb:v:11:y:1984:i:3:p:263-277. 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: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    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.