Specifying the Content of Humble Social-Science Models

This paper describes ways to specify important static content of social-science models for counterterrorism without dependence on a particular computer language or environment. The ambitions are modest because the actual knowledge to be represented is limited. The premium should be on simple, clear descriptions that can be communicated, debated, and “validated” across interdisciplinary lines, rather than on pretentious detail. The approach should also lay the groundwork for exploratory analysis because of inherent uncertainties. The paper is at least a start in that direction.

Originally delivered at a conference: Proceedings of the 2009 Summer Computer Simulation Conference (SCSC'09), 2009, ISBN: 1-56555-333-0. Information provided courtesy of the Society for Modeling and Simulation International.

Download Free Electronic Document

Document Details

  • Availability: Web-Only
  • Pages: 10
  • Document Number: RP-1408-1
  • Year: 2009
  • Series: Reprints

Originally delivered at conference: Proceedings of the 2009 Summer Computer Simulation Conference (SCSC'09), 2009, ISBN: 1-56555-333-0.

This report is part of the RAND Corporation reprint series. This product is part of the RAND Corporation reprint series. RAND reprints present previously published journal articles, book chapters, and reports with the permission of the publisher. RAND reprints have been formally reviewed in accordance with the publisher's editorial policy, and are compliant with RAND's rigorous quality assurance standards for quality and objectivity.

Permission is given to duplicate this electronic document for personal use only, as long as it is unaltered and complete. Copies may not be duplicated for commercial purposes. Unauthorized posting of RAND PDFs to a non-RAND Web site is prohibited. RAND PDFs are protected under copyright law. For information on reprint and linking permissions, please visit the RAND Permissions page.

The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.

My RAND ?

Saved Items

Recommended