Priority Challenges for Social and Behavioral Research and Its Modeling

Abstract

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The Artificial University: Decision Support for Universities in the COVID-19 Era

“…is point has been made in a series of important publications, beginning with Troitzsch [4]. More recent practical recommendations for validation can be found in Davis et al [5], which directly addresses the meaning of simulations like TAU, which are well validated at the low level of causal architecture but cannot be validated at the high level for want of quantitative data of the right kinds. e same point is explored in depth by Saldanha et al [6].…”

How to make socio‐environmental modelling more useful to support policy and management?

“…The human dimension, the 'socio-' in socio-environmental systems, adds levels of complexity as humans, more vehemently than other species, continually innovate and adapt their practices while negotiating their interests. This sometimes leads to what has been called 'wicked problems' (Churchman, 1967;Davis et al, 2018)-problems that involve a host of stakeholders with conflicting interests, and for which no simple or optimal solutions exist. Such a situation occurred, for example, when discussing effects of strategies to prevent new infections during the coronavirus pandemic (Squazzoni et al, 2020).…”

“…Modellers thereby inevitably have to take on the role of translators for the model results, as only this allows a sound understanding by decision-makers which needs to be the basis to use the model in any decision process (Gilbert et al, 2018). Explicitly communicating assumptions in the model conceptualisation and uncertainties in the model output is particularly important for an effective incorporation of the results in the decision-making process (Brugnach et al, 2007;Davis et al, 2018;Gregr & Chan, 2015).…”

Modelling food security: Bridging the gap between the micro and the macro scale

“…But a number of challenges exist, ranging from inherent characteristics of socio-environmental systems as complex adaptive systems (cf. Davis et al, 2018) to the limited synthesis of empirical studies on temporal dynamics of decision processes. Second, new types of actors play an increasing role in food security, including transnational companies, large land-owners, and agribusinesses.…”