Cathy Stein Greenblat

Simulation in Social Science

The basic problems and questions confronted by contemporary social scientists are problems dealing with the interrelationships between a large number of elements. While classical science was concerned with problems which usually entailed only a few variables and one-way chains of causality, modern problems are generally multivariate. They are problems of &dquo;organized complexity&dquo;-that is, of the interaction of a large but not infinite number of variables (see von Bertalanffy, 1968: 11). The analysis and explanation of these highly complex systems frequently requires the use of tools that have only recently come into their own. This brief article provides an overview regarding the use of one such tool, computer simulation-the construction of systems models and the subsequent evaluation of these models as a surrogate for the system that is of primary interest.

An innovative program of counseling family members and friends of seropositive haemophiliacs

This paper describes current efforts to construct a set of innovative educational and skill building materials targetted at groups of persons with HIV infection, those at risk for HIV, their families and friends, and health professionals. The ENCOUNTERS family of interactive simulations is designed to provide participants with the necessary communication and behavioral skills to deepen their understanding of HIV, to improve their interaction with others in their interpersonal environment, and to more effectively manage stress generated by HIV concerns The ENCOUNTERS family of simulations are built on the principles of role play, but adds to them principles of simulation gaming. The former technique is strengthened by offering active participation for all group members, increased structure, and the opportunity for participants to take different perspectives on an issue of concern in a supportive small group environment.

The design and redesign of gaming simulations on health care issues

The problems of designing gaming simulations are discussed. Concrete examples illustrate the specific problems. The problems include the following: changes in the modeled system (both medical and social aspects) that render the game of historical interest only, adapting a basic design for use in different countries and cultures, and reproduction and dissemination of game materials.

Health Care Planning and Education via Gaming-Simulation: A Two-Stage Experiment

A twos-stage process of gaming-simulation design was conducted: the first stage of design concerned national planning for hemophilia care; the second stage of design was for gaming-simulation concerning the problems of hemophilia patients and health care providers. The planning design was intended to be adaptable to large-scale planning for a variety of health care problems. The educational game was designed using data developed in designing the planning game. A broad range of policy-makers participated in the planning game.

Changing images, changing visions, changing practices

Good health care, readers of this journal know, requires more than the physician practicing “evidence-based” medicine, using the wizardry of modern technology in combination with honed diagnostic skills to identify medical troubles and their treatment. It depends on the physicians understanding of the patients emotional and social needs, and requires skill and sensitivity in relating to patients and their family members.

Social Contributions and Responsibilities of Simulation and Gaming: Thoughts on the Retirement of Gaming Simulations

In 1956, Brigitte Bardot, a 22-year-old French actress, caused a sensation in her home country and around the world in the film And God Created Woman. French censors condemned the film as immoral, demanding that it be edited before it could be shown; it lost money in France where it received terrible reviews. Internationally, however, it was a box office success and Bardot, known as BB, became an international sex symbol. She was best known for the many nude or semi-nude scenes in which she appeared in various films, for her appearances in Playboy in 1964 and 1969, and for her flamboyant lifestyle. She starred in an average of two films per year and made several record albums before she retired from acting at a very young age of 39 in 1973. In 1995, more than 20 years after her retirement, she was chosen by Empire magazine (UK) as one of the “100 Sexiest Stars in Film History” (#9); in 1997 the same magazine ranked her #49 in their list of “The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time.” The June 14, 1999 issue of Time magazine named her one of the 20th century’s twenty most beautiful stars. On the Internet, there are many web sites devoted to BB, and many offer old posters and photographs of her for sale. Brigitte Bardot retired to her home in St. Tropez, on the French Riviera, where she has devoted much of her time over the last 30 years to work on behalf of animal rights. Just 100km down the road from St. Tropez is Nice, where I currently live. I moved there at the beginning of 2002, having decided that the gratifications of my career in the academic world were no longer as great as they had been. Last January, I officially retired from my Professorship at Rutgers University, and I am loving my new life in this beautiful area. My major current endeavors include swimming, kayaking, exploring the wonderful area where I now live, seeing old friends, and making new ones. Reading on my terrace is a favorite pastime, too. Of course, nobody is selling photographs on the Internet of me in my past life as a gamer and sociologist.

Introducing Gaming-Simulations into the Planning Process in a Developing Country

Under the sponsorship of UNDP (the United Nations Development Program), a multistage process of introducing gaming-simulation into various stages of the planning process in Ghana has been underway for the past year. The consultation was invited in response to the pressing demand for a larger number of trained development planners in both the public and private sectors in Ghana. Over the course of two 1-month visits, this author worked with staff at the Department of Planning, Faculty of Environmental and Development Studies, University of Science and Technology (UST), Kumasi, with several major goals connected with the overall aim of strengthening the capacity for using and designing gaming-simulations. As a result of the success of this first consultation, a second stage has been proposed. This paper will elaborate on the first phase of the project.