Chapter 3 discusses methods to assess the quality of simulations. You learned about three different views of simulation quality which are Standard view, Constructivist View, User community view. Suppose you lead a task force that is developing a simulation to provide strategic planning recommendations for property use zoning for a county of 750,000 residents. The zoning board and county commissioners want a simulation that allows them to assess the impact of various zoning decisions based on a variety of dynamic factors, including age, race, education, and income status. You must do the following: 1) As indicated above, identify which of the three views discussed in the chapter that would provide the best quality assessment for the situation described above, and explain your decision. 2) How would you ensure the highest level of accuracy with your simulation, and how would you go about determining accuracy? ALL original posts and comments must be substantive and follow APA6th format. The answer should have 400 words. You can use below reference: Janssen, M., Wimmer, M. A., & Deljoo, A. (Eds.). (2015). Policy practice and digital science: Integrating complex systems, social simulation and public administration in policy research (Vol. 10). Springer.

In developing a simulation for strategic planning recommendations for property use zoning in a county with 750,000 residents, it is essential to assess the quality of the simulation accurately. In this case, the Constructivist View of simulation quality would provide the best assessment for the situation. The Constructivist View focuses on understanding reality through the simulation, acknowledging that it is a representation rather than a perfect model of the real world.

By adopting the Constructivist View, the task force can ensure that the simulation captures the dynamic factors that influence zoning decisions, such as age, race, education, and income status. This view emphasizes the importance of incorporating complexity and interdependencies within the simulation model, allowing decision-makers to evaluate the impact of various zoning decisions accurately.

To ensure the highest level of accuracy with the simulation, the task force must undertake several steps. First, they need to collect accurate and comprehensive data on the county’s residents, including demographic information and other relevant factors. These data will serve as inputs to the simulation model and must be representative of the population under consideration.

Next, it is crucial to validate the simulation model against real-world data and outcomes. This validation process involves comparing the simulation’s results with historical or observed data to determine its accuracy and reliability. The task force can evaluate the simulation’s accuracy by measuring its ability to reflect past zoning decisions and their consequences accurately. Any discrepancies between the simulation and actual outcomes would indicate the need for refinement and further calibration.

Furthermore, the task force should involve experts and stakeholders in the process of developing and evaluating the simulation model. Experts in urban planning, social sciences, and data analysis can provide valuable insights and help ensure that the model captures the complexity of the zoning decision-making process accurately. Stakeholders, such as members of the zoning board and county commissioners, should also be actively engaged to validate the simulation’s outputs and provide feedback on its usability and relevance.

To determine accuracy, the task force can employ various evaluation methods. They can use statistical measures, such as root mean square error (RMSE) or mean absolute error (MAE), to quantify the discrepancy between the simulation results and real-world data. Additionally, they can conduct sensitivity analyses to understand the impact of parameter changes on the simulation’s outputs, allowing for a robust assessment of its accuracy and reliability.

In summary, the Constructivist View of simulation quality would provide the most appropriate assessment for developing a simulation for strategic planning recommendations for property use zoning in a county. To ensure accuracy, the task force must collect reliable data, validate the simulation model against real-world outcomes, involve experts and stakeholders, and employ various evaluation methods. These steps will help ensure that the simulation accurately captures the dynamic factors and provides high-quality recommendations for the zoning board and county commissioners.