An extended research framework for the simulation era

The paper proposes a novel research architecture for social scientists that want to employ simulation methods. The new framework gives an integrated view of a research process that involves simulation modelling. It highlights the importance of the theoretical foundation of a simulation model and shows with the help of the non-statement view and its structuralist theory reconstruction how new theory-driven propositions and hypotheses can be derived from simulations that are empirically testable. It also illustrates the role of theory-based simulation environments. The paper describes the different aspects of the framework in detail and shows how it can help structure the research efforts of scholars interested in using simulation.