Sponsor
This work was supported by the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) under funding received from the National Science Foundation DBI-1052875. Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Published In
Environmental Modelling & Software
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-2018
Subjects
Qualtative analysis, Mental representation, Participatory modeling, Water quality management -- Michigan -- Flint -- Case studies, Groundwater -- Management -- India -- Case studies, Floodplains -- Amazon River Valley -- Management -- Case studies
Abstract
Various tools and methods are used in participatory modelling, at different stages of the process and for different purposes. The diversity of tools and methods can create challenges for stakeholders and modelers when selecting the ones most appropriate for their projects. We offer a systematic overview, assessment, and categorization of methods to assist modelers and stakeholders with their choices and decisions. Most available literature provides little justification or information on the reasons for the use of particular methods or tools in a given study. In most of the cases, it seems that the prior experience and skills of the modelers had a dominant effect on the selection of the methods used. While we have not found any real evidence of this approach being wrong, we do think that putting more thought into the method selection process and choosing the most appropriate method for the project can produce better results. Based on expert opinion and a survey of modelers engaged in participatory processes, we offer practical guidelines to improve decisions about method selection at different stages of the participatory modeling process.
DOI
10.1016/j.envsoft.2018.08.028.
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/27209
Citation Details
Voinov, A., Jenni, K., Gray, S., Kolagani, N., Glynn, P. D., Bommel, P., ... & Sterling, E. (2018). Tools and methods in participatory modeling: Selecting the right tool for the job. Environmental Modelling & Software, 109, 232-255.
Description
To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by Elsevier and can be found at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2018.08.028.
Originally appeared in Environmental Modelling and Software, Volume 109, November 2018, Pages 232-255.