Facilitated modelling is an approach where operational researchers act as facilitators to model an issue collaboratively with stakeholders. The potential benefits of facilitated modelling, including cognitive change and consensus forming, have been extensively described. However, the evidence that these benefits are achieved often remains anecdotical, and mainly relies on self-reported assessments. This is problematic, as self-reported measures can prove unreliable. In this study we adopted a pre-test post-test design to analyse whether the intended outcomes of eight facilitated modelling workshops were achieved. We compared the outcomes as experienced by participants of the workshops with observed outcomes. Our results show that cognitive change and consensus forming were achieved. However, experienced and observed cognitive change were not related. For consensus forming, we did find a modest correlation between experienced and observed outcomes. We discuss implications for facilitated modelling research and practice.

促进建模是一种方法，运营研究人员充当促进者与利益相关者合作建模问题。促进建模的潜在好处，包括认知改变和共识形成，已经被广泛描述。然而，实现这些好处的证据通常仍然是轶事，主要依赖于自我报告的评估。这是有问题的，因为自我报告的措施可能被证明是不可靠的。在这项研究中，我们采用了前测后测设计来分析八个促进建模研讨会的预期结果是否实现。我们将研讨会参与者所经历的结果与观察到的结果进行了比较。我们的结果表明，实现了认知改变和共识形成。然而，经历的和观察到的认知变化不相关。对于形成共识，我们确实发现经验和观察到的结果之间存在适度的相关性。我们讨论了对促进建模研究和实践的影响。