Pattern-Oriented Modeling of Commons Dilemma Experiments

Authored by Marco A Janssen, Allen Lee, Nicholas P. Radtke

Date Published: 2009-12

DOI: 10.1177/1059712309342488

Sponsors: United States National Science Foundation (NSF)

Platforms: MASON

Model Documentation: ODD Mathematical description

Model Code URLs: https://www.comses.net/codebases/2245/releases/1.0.0/

Abstract

A major challenge in the development of computational models of collective behavior is the empirical validation. Experimental data from a spatially explicit dynamic commons dilemma experiment is used to empirically ground an agent-based model. Three distinct patterns are identified in the data. Two naive models, random walk and greedy agents, do not produce data that match the patterns. A more comprehensive model is presented that explains how participants make movement and harvest decisions. Using pattern-oriented modeling the parameter space is explored to identify the parameter combinations that meet the three identified patterns. Less than 0.1% of the parameter combinations meet all the patterns. These parameter settings were used to successfully predict the patterns of a new set of experiments.

Tags

commons dilemma empirically grounded agent-based modeling human experiments individual decision making