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Formal theory development by computational simulation modeling: a tale of two philosophical approaches

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Abstract

Computational simulation modeling is an important approach to formal theory development. It has all the advantages of mathematical models, and is additionally able to overcome problems related to discontinuities and disequilibrium conditions that mathematical models do not handle well. In social science research, a good deal of emphasis is placed on leveraging pioneering models, to further knowledge smoothly. However, two important philosophical paradigms, that of critical realism and scientific realism, sharply differ in terms of what is considered worth preserving and what is considered up for change, in work that follows that of the pioneer. Scientific Realists value knowledge accumulation. Models contradicting key assumptions of a pioneering model may not readily find favor with Scientific Realists. Critical Realists focus on generating new theory by the quickest possible means, particularly in areas where there is a paucity of theory. They favor leveraging the ontological aspects of pioneering models, while being open to contradicting its key assumptions. Thus, notwithstanding the surface similarity of both traditions promoting research by computational simulation modeling, knowledge advancement accomplished is of very different kinds, each with its own distinctive set of implications.

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Notes

  1. Other approaches toward formal theory development, for instance, mathematical modeling (for example, Makadok 2001), modeling by formal logic (for example, Hannan et al. 2007), also provide the guarantee of fulfilling the counterfactual condition. Non-formal approaches, for instance, verbal theory development (as, say, in a majority of the articles in the Academy of Management Review), are often not in a position to uphold the counterfactual (Adner et al. 2009).

  2. An altogether new type of model, say, analogous to the ant-colony optimization (Colorni et al. 1991) or simulated annealing (Kirkpatrick et al. 1983; Černý 1985) and such, will need to pass the scrutiny of journals that are focused on methods, before they become eligible for building theory in management and organization studies.

  3. Specifically, Bhaskar recommends “development of conceptual representations of posited underlying generative mechanisms such as structures and processes in the form of iconic or formal/mathematical models” (Mckelvey 1997a, p. 17).

  4. These scholars come together in their conviction for evolutionary epistemology, i.e., in their belief that, over time, weaker theories are selected out by a Darwinian process. Popper’s principal contribution is with regard to the concept of falsification of theories that chart the boundaries of their applicability. Toulmin’s main contribution is with respect to oversight on thinning of scientific morality with particular attention to careful distinction between field-dependent and field-invariant arguments (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Toulmin Date Accessed 13th May, 2015). Campbell’s realist ideas are celebrated the world over. Mckelvey’s writings evidence the semantic conception of scientific realism. The latter admits to a family of formal theories assisting understanding of a phenomenon.

  5. We exclude certain types of knowledge from our scope, for instance, knowledge regarding how to ride a bicycle, knowing someone in person, and knowing a place or a city. Our focus is on knowledge as justified true belief. We elaborate further in the section that follows.

  6. The sense we use the term “belief” is as follows: A human being named S believes a proposition P, i.e., S believes that P. An example of proposition P may be as follows: P => The sun rises in the east.

  7. “The number π is a mathematical constant, the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, commonly approximated as 3.14159” (quoted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pi date Accessed 13th May 2015).

  8. Relatedly, the circumstances under which a body with a large mass ought to revolve around a body with a smaller mass would be an interesting line of inquiry.

  9. In some rare situations, it may take a while to break the tie. For example, quite a bit of experimental evidence suggests that light behaves like a wave. Other experimental evidence suggests a particle nature of light. It is probable that light may be neither, or that the distinction between wave and particle in current scientific thinking is flawed.

  10. “The origin of the Earth's magnetic field is not completely understood, but is thought to be associated with electrical currents produced by the coupling of convective effects and rotation in the spinning liquid metallic outer core of iron and nickel” (quoted from: http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/earth/magnetic.html Date Accessed: 13th May, 2015).

  11. Similar applies for the material and other specifications listed in Engineering Handbooks: the combination of materials, temperatures, tensions, etc., that work fine in specific situations is listed, upon carrying out repeated experimentation and trials. An airplane made of over thirty thousand parts can have potentially a very large number of configurations. However, particular configurations have been found to be safe within operating conditions envisaged by engineers. There is practically no theoretical framework to elicit what natural conditions are not safe for operation. Yet, millions of people put faith in an aircraft ride.

  12. Regardless of which of S1 and S2 manages to withstand further scrutiny, a further question concerning mechanism may be asked—what makes the Sun go around the Earth (if S1 is found more likely), or what makes the Earth rotate on its axis (if S2 is found to be more likely). In asking this question, we transcend from one level of analysis to another. Analogous transitions occur when we move from saying that we see objects by virtue of the light reflected from them, to studying components inside our eyes (cells, nerves, etc.) and how those work in conjunction with the machinery in the brain to enable the sensing of light in the first place. In this paper, we restrict ourselves to analysis at one level only.

  13. Friedman egregiously stated that, neither does he claim that firms do maximize profit, nor does he advocate that they ought to do so; the profit maximization assumption merely helps him frame and solve pretty analytical equations. However, it may have become a self-fulfilling prophecy (Ghoshal 2005; Merton 1948; Pfeffer 2007) through various forms of indoctrination—in MBA programs, executive education, and the like. For a fruitful alternative to profit maximization as the sole managerial imperative, please see Chanda and Ray (2015), Hilferding (1910) and Schumpeter (1942/1950). These researchers see managers’ key task as setting afoot innovative activity that builds new competencies and helps compete in the future.

  14. Hunt (1991), Rescher (1987), Mckelvey (1997a), and others acknowledge that “science is very much in motion and that current conceptions of what is real is subject to change” (Mckelvey 1997a, p. 15).

  15. Socrates stated that God may be requested to build a wall so high that even God cannot go over it. If God succeeded in building that wall, Socrates would point to that wall and say that crossing it is something God is unable to do. Therefore, God is not omnipotent. If God did not succeed in constructing such a wall, Socrates would cite this failure as proof against God’s omnipotence.

  16. The four questions were suggested by Prof. Bill Mckelvey of UCLA in a personal communication.

  17. In contrast, certain problems, though interesting and worthwhile, are not amenable to resolution in a single research effort. A question concerning what may be done to reduce world hunger falls in this category.

  18. The information given in Table 2 constitute the criteria to help the editors and reviewers judge the extent to which a manuscript is consistent in situating the problem and fashioning/elaboration of proposed solutions thereto.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indian Institute of Management Indore, Indore, India

    Sasanka Sekhar Chanda

  2. Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Calcutta, India

    Sougata Ray

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  1. Sasanka Sekhar Chanda
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Correspondence to Sougata Ray.

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Chanda, S.S., Ray, S. Formal theory development by computational simulation modeling: a tale of two philosophical approaches. Decision 42, 251–267 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40622-015-0096-y

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