<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> Wargames are important methods for military planning, education and research. Qualitative models have a long tradition in wargaming for improving and practising the military skills as well as enhancing the military planning based on the experiences and understanding of the experts. Quantitative models are included in simulations and technical studies. Traditionally, the relations between the qualitative and quantitative research have been described as opposites. We shall consider both the approaches, their challenges and possibilities, and their combination for producing more exhaustive wargame and for answering to the criticism of wargame as a mainly qualitative method. </p><p>Our main research question is: How to combine quantitative and qualitative approaches and methods to improve quality of results of military wargames? Our main objective is to clarify and illustrate how qualitative and quantitative methods can be combined through the wargame. We shall emphasize the importance of the model selection at the beginning as it limits and guides the form (not the content) of the obtained results. We shall illustrate a combined wargame within different steps and the modelling themes of the game. Our results and findings should be useful for improving and focusing wargames to answer given research questions. </p></abstract>

Wargames are important methods for military planning, education and research. Qualitative models have a long tradition in wargaming for improving and practising the military skills as well as enhancing the military planning based on the experiences and understanding of the experts. Quantitative models are included in simulations and technical studies. Traditionally, the relations between the qualitative and quantitative research have been described as opposites. We shall consider both the approaches, their challenges and possibilities, and their combination for producing more exhaustive wargame and for answering to the criticism of wargame as a mainly qualitative method. Our main research question is: How to combine quantitative and qualitative approaches and methods to improve quality of results of military wargames? Our main objective is to clarify and illustrate how qualitative and quantitative methods can be combined through the wargame. We shall emphasize the importance of the model selection at the beginning as it limits and guides the form (not the content) of the obtained results. We shall illustrate a combined wargame within different steps and the modelling themes of the game. Our results and findings should be useful for improving and focusing wargames to answer given research questions.

Wargame as a combined method of qualitative and quantitative studies

Ph.D (Physics), Chief Scientist at Finnish Defence Research Agency,

Lieutenant Colonel, G.S., Chief of Staff in South Finland Logistics Regiment,

Professor, Department for Tactics and Operational Art, Finnish National Defence University,

PhD (Physics), scientist at Finnish Defence Research Agency,

Journal of Military Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

{"article-title":"Wargame as a combined method of qualitative and quantitative studies"}

Wargames are important methods for military planning, education and research. Qualitative models have a long tradition in wargaming for improving and...

Wargame as a combined method of qualitative and quantitative studies

Publié en ligne: 23 nov. 2016

Pages: 20 - 37

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jms-2016-0187

Mots clés
Wargame, qualitative methods, quantitative methods, combined methods, experience

© 2016

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Wargame as a combined method of qualitative and quantitative studies

Publié en ligne: 23 nov. 2016

Pages: 20 - 37

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jms-2016-0187

Mots clésWargame, qualitative methods, quantitative methods, combined methods, experience

© 2016

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Mots clés
Wargame, qualitative methods, quantitative methods, combined methods, experience