Chapter 10

Program planners and evaluators use logic models to clarify thinking and share ideas about the logical links between inputs and outputs. However, static logic models cannot show many interactions. The diversity of possible combinations and interactions is nearly impossible to show in a printed diagram and is expensive and difficult to study in the field. Interactive logic models, by contrast, can show many different possible combinations of interacting inputs and outputs. Users can interact with the model by choosing different combinations of inputs and observing interactions. Interactions of inputs can result in qualitatively different outputs including synergies and antagonisms, much as in drug interactions. I present several interactive logic models, programmed in a multi-agent modeling environment, which users can access and manipulate through a web-browser. Users can adjust levels of interventions, change the type of organizational interaction, and can change attitudes of the target populations to discover surprising interactions and resulting outcomes, including disparities between subpopulations. Such an approach should lead to improved models, hypotheses, program innovations and training before implementing programs. Try the link above for a preview. Login to the webpage with the password that comes with the book to see more.