Taking a Glimpse Into the Future by Playing?

Robert Lohmann

Simulation & Gaming, 2019, vol. 50, issue 3, 377-392

Abstract: Background . This article analyses whether an experimental policy-simulation might help political scientists in making predictions about prospective situations . Within the presented simulation-game, two groups of randomly assigned participants discussed the same issues but had different demographic structures. The ways in which their discussions transpired and results of the negotiation might provide a glimpse at how decisions might be made by societies in the future. Purpose . This article presents this special simulation-game. Furthermore, it seeks to discuss whether policy-simulations can be designed as experiments, whether there is a benefit, and for whom. Method . This study is based on both qualitative and quantitative data . The partici-pants in the simulation-game have been questioned in a pretest and in two post-tests. Furthermore, six pre- and post-interviews were conducted with involved experts. Results . The results show that the simulation-game can provide some ideas about the future, if perhaps not necessarily a wholly accurate image of the future. Observing experts and the participants gained some knowledge about how future generations might work together and where potential conflicts might be. Conclusion . Policy-simulations can be designed as experiments and might help to provide a glimpse into future, but designing such simulation-games is even more com-plex than designing simulationgames for a solely educational use.

Keywords: alternative purpose games; designing simulations; political science; simulation-based learning; survey-design (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:simgam:v:50:y:2019:i:3:p:377-392

DOI: 10.1177/1046878119848133

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