Towards fine grained human behaviour simulation models

Abstract

Agent based simulation modelers have found it difficult to build grounded fine grained simulation models of human behavior. By grounded we mean that the model elements must rest on valid observations of the real world, by fine grained we mean the ability to factor in multiple dimensions of behavior such as personality, affect and stress. In this paper, we present a set of guidelines to build such models that use fragments of behavior mined from past literature in the social sciences as well as behavioral studies conducted in the field. The behavior fragments serve as the building blocks to compose grounded fine grained behavior models. The models can be used in simulations for studying the dynamics of any set of behavioral dimensions in some situation of interest. These guidelines are a result of our experience with creating a fine grained simulation model of a support services organization.