Abstract for: Lessons from software testing for developing behavioral tests of dynamic models

The process of formalizing statements of system behavior with respect to time or as a result of varying parameters has been promoted as a way to build rigor in claims regarding the observable behavior of dynamical systems. In the software development process, formalization of system behavior is commonplace - this is the discipline of Software Testing. This paper builds upon existing system dynamics literature to characterize various types of behavior tests, and then draws on the tools and insights of formal software testing to make suggestions for improving formal testing of system dynamics models.