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human behavior and adaptation in FEW systems. The population of interest, the
context in which human behavior is being studied, and the scale at which decisions are made, among others, are all important considerations in determining
the appropriate data collection and research approach.
• Researchers have made progress in representing human behavior and adaptations
in FEW system models, drawing on various theoretical and empirical approaches
of social sciences. However, challenges remain, including determining the most
appropriate social science framework, computational and conceptual challenges
for modeling, and the proper scaling of models from an individual level to a
regional or global scale, among others.
Discussion Points and Exercises
1. Why is it important to consider human behavior in the context of FEW systems?
What are the potential consequences of not considering human behavior?
2. Discuss the challenges of incorporating human behavior in the study of FEW
systems. How are researchers working to overcome these challenges?
3. Provide an example of a technology whose impact may be overstated by using
the framework in Fig. 4.1 to model its adoption. How might the framework
presented in Fig. 4.2 help researchers more accurately predict the impact of the
technology you have chosen? What elements of the figures are important when
considering the impacts of new technologies on FEW systems?
4. The EPA estimates that the average passenger vehicle emits 4.6 metric tons of
carbon per year (https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/greenhouse-gas-emissions-typical-passenger-vehicle). Suppose that electric vehicle manufacturers
want to estimate the potential impact of their cars on carbon emissions in the
USA. They use data on electric and plug-in vehicles from the EPA’s Alternative
Fuels Data Center (https://afdc.energy.gov/data/categories/afvs-and-hevs) to
predict electric vehicle sales 20 years from now, assuming similar sales growth
into the future. Using their prediction for the number of cars sold and the
amount of carbon used by the average vehicle, they report the estimated reduction in carbon from electric vehicles in 20 years. What factors might have been
overlooked in this estimate? Do you think this estimate is understated or overstated? What factors would you consider to provide a more accurate estimate of
the future potential impacts of electric vehicles on carbon emissions?
5. What is the rationality assumption? Why might it lead to inaccurate depictions of human behavior and adaptation in FEW systems?
6. Provide examples of press and pulse events in FEW systems. Why is considering human behavior and adaptation to these events important in studying their
effects?
7. What are some challenges of studying human behavior and adaptation to press
events? To pulse events? In your answer, please use specific examples of types
of press and pulse events.
8. What is meant by the term “behavioral heterogeneity”? What challenges does
behavioral heterogeneity pose to the study of human behavior and adaption in
FEW systems? What are some ways that these challenges have been addressed?
M. Doidge et al.
human behavior and adaptation in FEW systems. The population of interest, the
context in which human behavior is being studied, and the scale at which decisions are made, among others, are all important considerations in determining
the appropriate data collection and research approach.
• Researchers have made progress in representing human behavior and adaptations
in FEW system models, drawing on various theoretical and empirical approaches
of social sciences. However, challenges remain, including determining the most
appropriate social science framework, computational and conceptual challenges
for modeling, and the proper scaling of models from an individual level to a
regional or global scale, among others.
Discussion Points and Exercises
1. Why is it important to consider human behavior in the context of FEW systems?
What are the potential consequences of not considering human behavior?
2. Discuss the challenges of incorporating human behavior in the study of FEW
systems. How are researchers working to overcome these challenges?
3. Provide an example of a technology whose impact may be overstated by using
the framework in Fig. 4.1 to model its adoption. How might the framework
presented in Fig. 4.2 help researchers more accurately predict the impact of the
technology you have chosen? What elements of the figures are important when
considering the impacts of new technologies on FEW systems?
4. The EPA estimates that the average passenger vehicle emits 4.6 metric tons of
carbon per year (https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/greenhouse-gas-emissions-typical-passenger-vehicle). Suppose that electric vehicle manufacturers
want to estimate the potential impact of their cars on carbon emissions in the
USA. They use data on electric and plug-in vehicles from the EPA’s Alternative
Fuels Data Center (https://afdc.energy.gov/data/categories/afvs-and-hevs) to
predict electric vehicle sales 20 years from now, assuming similar sales growth
into the future. Using their prediction for the number of cars sold and the
amount of carbon used by the average vehicle, they report the estimated reduction in carbon from electric vehicles in 20 years. What factors might have been
overlooked in this estimate? Do you think this estimate is understated or overstated? What factors would you consider to provide a more accurate estimate of
the future potential impacts of electric vehicles on carbon emissions?
5. What is the rationality assumption? Why might it lead to inaccurate depictions of human behavior and adaptation in FEW systems?
6. Provide examples of press and pulse events in FEW systems. Why is considering human behavior and adaptation to these events important in studying their
effects?
7. What are some challenges of studying human behavior and adaptation to press
events? To pulse events? In your answer, please use specific examples of types
of press and pulse events.
8. What is meant by the term “behavioral heterogeneity”? What challenges does
behavioral heterogeneity pose to the study of human behavior and adaption in
FEW systems? What are some ways that these challenges have been addressed?
M. Doidge et al.