What is Validation of Computer Simulations? Toward a Clarification of the Concept of Validation and of Related Notions

Beisbart, Claus (2019). What is Validation of Computer Simulations? Toward a Clarification of the Concept of Validation and of Related Notions. In: Beisbart, Claus; Saam, Nicole J. (eds.) Computer Simulation Validation. Fundamental Concepts, Methodological Frameworks, and Philosophical Perspectives. Simulation Foundations, Methods and Applications (pp. 35-67). Cham: Springer 10.1007/978-3-319-70766-2_2

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This chapter clarifies the concept of validation of computer simulations by comparing various definitions that have been proposed for the notion. While the definitions agree in taking validation to be an evaluation, they differ on the following questions: 1. What exactly is evaluated – results from a computer simulation, a model, a computer code? 2. What are the standards of evaluation – truth, accuracy and credibility or also something else? 3. What type of verdict does validation lead to – that the simulation is such and such good, or that it passes a test defined by a pre-defined threshold? 4. How strong needs the case to be for the verdict? 5. Does validation necessarily proceed by comparing simulation outputs with measured data? Along with the questions, the chapter explains notions that figure prominently in them, e.g. the concepts of accuracy and credibility. It further discusses natural answers to the questions as well as arguments that speak in favor and against these answers. The aim is to obtain a better understanding of the options we have for defining validation and how they are related to each other.

Item Type:

Book Section (Book Chapter)

Division/Institute:

06 Faculty of Humanities > Department of Art and Cultural Studies > Institute of Philosophy
06 Faculty of Humanities > Department of Art and Cultural Studies > Institute of Philosophy > Theoretical Philosophy
10 Strategic Research Centers > Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research (OCCR)
10 Strategic Research Centers > Center for Space and Habitability (CSH)

UniBE Contributor:

Beisbart, Claus

Subjects:

000 Computer science, knowledge & systems
100 Philosophy
100 Philosophy > 120 Epistemology

ISSN:

2195-2817

ISBN:

978-3-319-70766-2

Series:

Simulation Foundations, Methods and Applications

Publisher:

Springer

Language:

English

Submitter:

Claus Beisbart

Date Deposited:

28 Apr 2020 11:36

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 15:38

Publisher DOI:

10.1007/978-3-319-70766-2_2

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Evaluation · Model · Code · Truth · Accuracy · Credibility · Adequate representation · Adequacy for purpose · Explanation · Data-driven validation · Test

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.143706

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/143706

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