Taking a Glimpse Into the Future by Playing?. (June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lohmann, Robert
• Other Names: Slegers Karin guest-editor.; Bleumers Lizzy guest-editor.; Maurer Bernhard guest-editor.; Krischkowsky Alina guest-editor.; Blythe Mark guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Simulation & gaming. Volume 50:Number 3(2019)
• Page Start: 377
• Page End: 392
• Publication Date: 2019-06
• Subjects: alternative purpose games -- designing simulations -- political science -- simulation-based learning -- survey-design; Social sciences -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Simulation methods -- Periodicals; Game theory -- Periodicals; Sciences sociales -- Étude et enseignement -- Périodiques; Simulation, Méthodes de -- Périodiques; Jeu de rôle -- Périodiques; Éducation; Jeu d'entreprise; Jeu de simulation; Méthode de simulation; Sciences sociales; Théorie des jeux; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 003.3
• DOI: 10.1177/1046878119848133
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1046-8781

Abstract

Background . This article analyses whether an experimentalpolicy-simulation might help political scientists inmaking 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 bothqualitative 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.