Structural Validation of Simulation Models: An Illustration

Abstract

Simulation models are becoming increasingly popular in the analysis of important socio-technical issues including global warming, population dynamics, energy systems, and urban planning. The usefulness of these models is predicated on their ability to link observable patterns of behavior of a system to microlevel structures. This paper argues that structural validity of the simulation model -right behavior for the right reasons- is a stringent measure to build confidence in a simulation model regardless of how well the model passes behavior validity tests. That leads to an outline of formal structural validity procedures available but less explored in modeling ‘repertoire’. An illustration of a set of six tests for structural validity of a system dynamics type simulation model follows.