Combining experiments with agent-based modelling: Benefits for experimental management accounting research

Jannick Plähn*, Lucia Bellora-Bienengräber, Kai G. Mertens, M. Meyer

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademic

48 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Laboratory experiments are among the most frequently used methods in management accounting research because they offer high internal validity, enabling the examination of causal relationships. However, experiments often struggle with providing support for a specific proposed causal mechanism, given the abundance of psychological and behavioral theories that predict similar outcomes. In this paper, we argue that agent-based modeling is well suited to complement experiments because agent-based modeling is a powerful method to increase confidence in the proposed causal mechanism. As a showcase project, we conduct an experiment to explain antecedents of honest reporting behavior in a participative budgeting setting and propose that a social norm of honesty is the underlying causal mechanism. Next, we adapt an agent-based model to our participative budgeting setting and create two submodels incorporating alternative causal mechanisms. Finally, we assess the capability of the two submodels to reproduce the experiment’s results to evaluate whether the observed behavior in the experiment can be better explained with the causal mechanism representing social norm theory.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAdvances in Social Simulation
Subtitle of host publicationProceedings of the 17th Social Simulation Conference, European Social Simulation Association
EditorsFlaminio Squazzoni
PublisherSpringer International Publishing, Cham, Switzerland
Pages371–382
Number of pages12
ISBN (Electronic)9783031349201
ISBN (Print)9783031349195, 9783031349225
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30-Sept-2023

Publication series

NameSpringer Proceedings in Complexity
PublisherSpringer Cham
ISSN (Print)2213-8684
ISSN (Electronic)2213-8692

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Combining experiments with agent-based modelling: Benefits for experimental management accounting research'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this