ABSTRACT

Computer simulation is a method that allows experiments on a system through a computer-based model ofthesystem.Byexperimentingwithamodelofthesystem,weavoidallthecomplicationsofexperimentingwiththerealsystem.Newequipmentisnotpurchased,people’sjobsarenotchanged,facilities arenotrenovated,andpatternsofpracticearenotaltered.Insteadthesechangesaremadetoacomputer modelandtheexperimentsare“simulated.”Sosimulationisamethodto“mimic”or“imitate”thereal system.Itrequiresnostretchoftheimaginationtoconjureupasimulationthatonlymimicsarealsystembutmakesnoattempttostatisticallyreplicateit.Ÿatiso·enreferredtoasacomputersimulation game.Inacompletelydifferentcontext,thephrase“healthcaresimulation”isusedtodescribeactivitiesinhealthcaretrainingo·enusingmannequins,especiallyasitrelatestopatientsafetyandmedical procedures.Here,however,computersimulationattemptstoreflectarealsystem,sothatthestatistical andnumericalresultsofthe“experimentation”canlegitimatelyimplyconsequencestotherealsystem.