SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT BY SOCIAL SIMULATION

ABSTRACT

Social simulation is a methodology, in which real social interaction is generated under simulated conditions, representing the reference system. Models have been developed for production organizations, science policy advisory councils and governmental bureaucracies. In more than 50 experiments with over 1000 participants the psychological, structural and process validity of the models have been studied. A plurality of distinct social and cognitive frameworks can be generated and reproduced systematically. Moreover it is possible to realize policy interventions (c.q. strategies for change) within the social reality of the experiments. Thus the models can be used both for social impact assessment and as a learning strategy for the development of policy options and strategies for social change.

KEY WORDS:

• social simulation
• social interaction
• policy interventions
• strategies for change