Barlas, Yaman, "Model Validation in System Dynamics", 1994
ua435
Model validation constitutes an important step in system dynamics methodology. Validation is a prolonged and complicated process, involving both formal/quantitative tools and informal/qualitative ones. This paper first provides a summary of the philosophical issues involved in model validation. We then focus on the formal model validation. We offer a flowchart that describes the logical sequence in which various validations activities must be carried out. We give examples of specific validity tests used in the three major categories of model validations: Structural tests, structure-oriented behavior tests and behavior pattern tests. Finally, we focus specifically on the logic of the behavior pattern validation and illustrate it on a mutli-step validation procedure. Currently, we are in the process of implementing this multi-step procedure on micro-computers, embedded in a friendly user-interface.