Abstract

This article presents a sociological perspective on the stakeholderStakeholder approach to simulation validation using the validation of socio-ecological simulation models as an example. I develop an argument-based approachArgument-based approach to simulation validation which can be applied in the natural and social sciencesSocial science and argue that it is the constructionist camp of action researchersAction research which has to consider the stakeholders’ judgementsJudgement as an indispensable point of reference for simulation validation. Only the stakeholders can validate that the model makes explicit their tacit knowledge. Only the stakeholders’ willingness to accept and act upon the scenariosScenario can decide issues of credibility. Obtaining the stakeholders’ judgements in such a framework is an iterative communicative procedure that requires a strong background in qualitative methods of empirical social research as well as gaming simulation.