Survey on Model Validation Viewpoints and Practice

Quantitative system models have long been used to support long-term policy analysis and decision making. As a part of a research project conducted at International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) on the validation of such models, this survey aims to investigate the existing validation viewpoints among researchers, practitioners and decision makers.

The context of the survey is not limited to a modelling methodology or application area. In general, you can consider environmental or economic models that generate long-term projections (for instance, impact assessment models). You can fill in this survey based on your area of modelling work and experience.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, valid means ‘well-grounded and justifiable’, yet the term validation has different meanings in different modelling fields. In this survey, by validation, we mean a general process of evaluating the performance of a model, how well-grounded and justifiable it is, and its suitability for its intended use. In other words, we do not refer only to a viewpoint focusing on representation accuracy, but we imply establishing confidence in the model by employing a variety of tools.     

As a model developer or user, you are cordially invited to participate in this survey and express your view, which is extremely valuable for our study. Your responses will be treated anonymously and will be used only in this study. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes of your time.

We would like to thank you for participating in our survey.