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114 Socially Intelligent Agentsmethodological preconceptions about “appropriate” techniques. Secondly, tosuggest that different techniques are appropriate to different aspects of a “datadriven” MAS. Few aspects of the simulation discussed above are self-evidentlyruled out from data collection. Thirdly, to suggest that prevailing data poor MASmay have more to do with excessive theory than with any intrinsic problems inthe data required.There are two objections to these claims. Firstly, all these data collectionmethods have weaknesses. However, this does not give us grounds for disregardingthem: the weakness of inappropriately collected data (or no data atall) is clearly greater. It will be necessary to triangulate different techniques,particularly for aspects of the MAS which sensitivity analysis shows are crucialto aggregate outcomes. The second “difficulty” is the scale of work and expertiseinvolved in building “data driven” MAS. Even for a simple social process,expertise may be required in several data collection techniques. However, thisdifficulty is intrinsic to the subject matter. Data poor MAS may choose to ignoreit but they do not resolve it.5. ConclusionsI have attempted to show two things. Firstly, MAS can be used to modelsocial processes in a way that avoids theoretical categories Secondly, differentkinds of data for MAS can be provided by appropriate techniques. In theconclusion, I discuss four general implications of giving data collection “centrestage” in MAS design.Dynamic Processes: MAS draws attention to the widespread neglect ofprocess in social science. ¾ Collection of aggregate time series data does littleto explain social change even when statistical regularities can be established.However, attempts to base genuinely dynamic models (such as MAS) on dataface a fundamental problem. There is no good time to ask about a dynamicprocess. Retrospective data suffers from problems with recall and rationalisation.Prospective data suffers because subjects cannot envisage outcomesclearly and because they cannot assess the impact of knowledge they haven’tyet acquired. If questions are asked at more than one point, there are also problemsof integration. Is the later report more accurate because the subject knowsmore or less accurate because of rationalisation? Nonetheless, this problem isagain intrinsic to the subject matter and ignoring it will not make it go away.Triangulation of methods may address the worst effects of this problem but itneeds to be given due respect.Progressive Knowledge: Because a single research project cannot collectall the data needed for even a simple “data driven” MAS, progressive productionand effective organisation of knowledge will become a priority. However, thisseldom occurs in social science (Davis 1994). Instead data are collected with