A methodology for eliciting, representing, and analysing stakeholder knowledge for decision making on complex socio-ecological systems: from cognitive maps to agent-based models

Sondoss Elsawah; Joseph H A Guillaume; Tatiana Filatova; Josefine Rook; Anthony J Jakeman

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.11.028

A methodology for eliciting, representing, and analysing stakeholder knowledge for decision making on complex socio-ecological systems: from cognitive maps to agent-based models

J Environ Manage. 2015 Mar 15:151:500-16. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.11.028. Epub 2015 Jan 23.

Authors

Sondoss Elsawah¹, Joseph H A Guillaume², Tatiana Filatova³, Josefine Rook⁴, Anthony J Jakeman²

Affiliations

¹ Integrated Catchment Assessment and Management (iCAM), Fenner School of Environment and Society, the Australian National University, Australia; National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training (NCGRT), School of the Environment, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia; University of New South Wales, School of Engineering and Information Technology, Australian Defence Force Academy, NorthCott Drive, Campbell, Canberra, Australia. Electronic address: sondoss.elsawah@anu.edu.au.
² Integrated Catchment Assessment and Management (iCAM), Fenner School of Environment and Society, the Australian National University, Australia; National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training (NCGRT), School of the Environment, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
³ University of Twente, Faculty of Management and Governance (MB), Twente Centre for Studies of Technology and Sustainable Development (CSTM) & Research Institute Deltares, The Netherlands.
⁴ Integrated Catchment Assessment and Management (iCAM), Fenner School of Environment and Society, the Australian National University, Australia.

PMID: 25622296
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.11.028

Abstract

This paper aims to contribute to developing better ways for incorporating essential human elements in decision making processes for modelling of complex socio-ecological systems. It presents a step-wise methodology for integrating perceptions of stakeholders (qualitative) into formal simulation models (quantitative) with the ultimate goal of improving understanding and communication about decision making in complex socio-ecological systems. The methodology integrates cognitive mapping and agent based modelling. It cascades through a sequence of qualitative/soft and numerical methods comprising: (1) Interviews to elicit mental models; (2) Cognitive maps to represent and analyse individual and group mental models; (3) Time-sequence diagrams to chronologically structure the decision making process; (4) All-encompassing conceptual model of decision making, and (5) computational (in this case agent-based) Model. We apply the proposed methodology (labelled ICTAM) in a case study of viticulture irrigation in South Australia. Finally, we use strengths-weakness-opportunities-threats (SWOT) analysis to reflect on the methodology. Results show that the methodology leverages the use of cognitive mapping to capture the richness of decision making and mental models, and provides a combination of divergent and convergent analysis methods leading to the construction of an Agent Based Model.

Keywords: Decision making; Human-environment systems; Mental models; Qualitative information; Quantitative models.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Community Participation / methods*
Conservation of Natural Resources / methods*
Decision Making*
Ecosystem
Humans
Knowledge
Models, Theoretical*
South Australia