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272                                                   O. Barreteau et al.

            role-playing game. A switch to the following category occurs when this explanation
            leads to a debate that makes the model open to modifications. Otherwise, it remains
            mere information.


            12.4.2.2  Consultation and No Control


                                        A       R



                                        P       M

              Participants are consulted about the model’s content and its simulation that is by
            the researchers, who are the only designers. They provide information and solicit
            comments on the model. Mere data collection through a survey does not fall in
            this category because it assumes active involvement from participants in providing
            information to the modellers. Some knowledge elicitation techniques, such as BBN
            design, tend to fall mostly in this category. Translation of the inputs originating from
            participants into pieces of a model is performed only by researchers. This translation
            is not necessary transparent. No control over use or dissemination of the model is
            deputed to participants as such. Compared to previous category, participants have
            the ability to frame marginally more of what is performed by the model through
            their inputs to the model’s content However, the extent of this ability depends on
            the participants’ skills to identify potential uses of a model. As in any participatory
            process, when there is an unbalanced power relation between parties, the process is
            also a way for policymakers to gain information from stakeholders, information that
            could be used for strategic purposes. This bias can be alleviated if the involvement
            of A includes all members of A, including the subset P. The constructed model in
            this case may be used by the members of P.


            12.4.2.3  Dialogue with Modellers and No Control


                                        A       R



                                        P       M

              In this category, iterative and genuinely interactive processes between stake-
            holders and modellers start to appear. There is still a translation of inputs from
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