WP030: The Validity of Simulation Models in Organizational Science: From Model Realism to Purpose

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Abstract/Contents

Abstract: Simulation models are widely applied to address fundamental and practical issues in organization science. Yet, simulation modeling in organization science continues to raise questions of validity. In this paper, we argue that simulation validity is a balance of three elements: the question or purpose, the experimental design, and the simulation model. Simple models which address the question are preferred. Non-simple, imbalanced simulations are not only inefficient but can lead to poor answers. The validity approach is compared with well-known validity criteria in social science. Finally we apply the approach to a number of simulation studies in organization science, beginning with Cyert's simulations. They were pioneering and are examples of well designed simulations.

Type of resource	text
Date created	April 1994

Author	Burton, Richard M.
Author	Obel, Borge

Subject	CIFE
Subject	Center for Integrated Facility Engineering
Subject	Stanford University
Subject	Modeling
Subject	Simulation
Subject	Simulation Modeling
Subject	Validation
Genre	Technical report

Location	https://purl.stanford.edu/rg890yf3913

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Preferred Citation: Burton, Richard M. and Obel, Borge. (1994). WP030: The Validity of Simulation Models in Organizational Science: From Model Realism to Purpose. Stanford Digital Repository. Available at: http://purl.stanford.edu/rg890yf3913

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