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Qualitative Data in the Service of Model Building: The Case of Structural Shirking

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Advances in Social Simulation

Part of the book series: Springer Proceedings in Complexity ((SPCOM))

Abstract

This chapter shows how qualitative data can inform building computational models. The general issue is illustrated with the example of a model of structural shirking in organisations, i.e. insufficient time and effort stemming from the structure of the performed work. The first attempt to build a model of shirking with the use of assumptions present in social scientific theories displayed many shortcomings. Thus, a mixed-methods approach was chosen to inform the development of a second computational model. Conceptualising the second model began with performing individual IDIs with managers and lower-level employees and augmenting them with analyses of Polish legislation regulating employment relationships. Initial findings were enriched with theoretical assumptions. The complete concept of the mechanism of structural shirking was operationalised as a computational model. Having developed both models, we discuss the phenomenon of shirking informing theories and real-world practices, as well as ways to study these practices in novel forms.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Other contractual forms, such as project contract or a contract of mandate, are regulated by the Civil Code and do not evoke an employment relationship and therefore are excluded from the presented analyses.

  2. 2.

    Act of 26 June 1974 on the Labour Code (J.L. 1974 No. 24, item 141), consolidated text of 4 November 2014 (J.L. 2014 No. 0, item 1502). Translations of the Labour Code after Agnieszka Jamroży [16].

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Acknowledgements

The project was supported by the National Science Centre in Poland, granted on the basis of agreement no. UMO-2014/13/N/HS6/02979.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Sciences, University College Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Patrycja Antosz

  2. Department of Computer and Systems Sciences, Stockholm University, Kista, Sweden

    Harko Verhagen

Authors
  1. Patrycja Antosz
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  2. Harko Verhagen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patrycja Antosz .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer and Systems Sciences, Stockholm University, Kista, Sweden

    Harko Verhagen

  2. Norwegian College of Fishery Science, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway

    Melania Borit

  3. Linnaeus University Centre for Data Intensive Sciences and Applications, Växjö, Sweden

    Giangiacomo Bravo

  4. Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden

    Nanda Wijermans

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Antosz, P., Verhagen, H. (2020). Qualitative Data in the Service of Model Building: The Case of Structural Shirking. In: Verhagen, H., Borit, M., Bravo, G., Wijermans, N. (eds) Advances in Social Simulation. Springer Proceedings in Complexity. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-34127-5_4

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