Communicating Insights from Complex Simulation Models:A Gaming Approach
Abstract
Communicating Insights from Complex Simulation ModelsA Gaming Approach SAGE Publications, Inc.1987DOI: 10.1177/104687818701800302 A.M.Vennix University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands L.A.Geurts University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands Formal simulation models play an important role in Dutch public policy discussions. One problem with such models is that many people, although they have read about these models, do not seem to understand their possibilities and limitations. A possible answer to this problem is to use experiential learning exercises to help nonspecialists in the understanding of these models. Interactive (or man-machine) simulation is considered a "hands-on" exercise for communicating insights from complex simulation models via a gaming approach. In a previous article (Geurts, van Griensven, Gubbles, and Vennix, 1985) we reported on the use of an interactive simulation of the Dutch social security system. Exploratory research on the use of this interactive simulation with groups of persons with little or no formal mathematical training indicated that participants consider the simulation useful, fascinating, and stimulating. At the same time, however, most participants reported that it is very complicated to realize certain social security policy goals (i.e., to Author's Note: This article describes one phase of a long-term research project tM W/HC/! ~vcra/ p~o~s coopcra~ wM