Agent-Based Sensitivity Analysis — Quantifying Parameter Influence in Complex Simulation Models

Agent-based sensitivity analysis (ABSA) applies sensitivity analysis techniques to agent-based models (ABMs) to determine which input parameters most strongly influence emergent outputs. Because ABMs are stochastic and nonlinear, standard analytical derivatives are unavailable; ABSA uses designed simulation experiments — screening methods, variance-based indices, or regression-based surrogates — to rank parameter importance and guide model calibration and validation.