To provide a simulation method capable of simulating not only an electric characteristic but also an optical characteristic, in particular, for a transitional light waveform, in an organic EL element.

The luminescent characteristic of the organic EL element is examined by using a simulation model having a structure composed by serially connecting an electrode interface model 2 expressing an interfacial contact state of an electrode to an organic film by connecting all of a diode D1, a capacitor C1 and a resistor R1 in parallel, an electrode interface model 4 expressing an interfacial contact state of a cathode electrode to the organic film by connecting all of a diode D2, a capacitor C2 and a resistor R2 in parallel, and an organic layer model 3 expressing an organic film including a luminescent part by serially connecting a resistor R3a, a capacitor C3 and a resistor R3c in that order, by connecting, in parallel with the capacitor C3, a voltage- controlled current source using the terminal-to-terminal voltage of the capacitor C3 as a variable, having a threshold value and varied non-linearly and continuously, and by assuming the voltage output Vp from the voltage-controlled current source to be the emitted light from the organic EL element.