Lessons learned replicating the analysis of outputs from a social simulation of biodiversity incentivisation

Abstract

This chapter reports on an exercise in replicating the analysis of outputs from 20,000 runs of a social simulation of biodiversity incentivisation (FEARLUS-SPOMM) as part of the MIRACLE project. Typically, replication refers to reconstructing the model used to generate the output from the description thereof, but for larger-scale studies, the output analysis itself may be difficult to replicate even when given the original output files. Tools for analysing simulation output data do not facilitate keeping records of what can be a lengthy and complicated process. We provide an outline design for a tool to address this issue, and make some recommendations based on the experience with this exercise.