Built-in　method　and　straightforward　adiabatic　temperature　change　method　have　been　widely　used　in　the　simulation　investigation　of　Active　Magnetic　Regeneration　Refrigeration　(AMRR)　cycle.　Nevertheless,　the　difference　between　the　abovementioned　two　approaches　has　rarely　been　discussed.　In　this　regard,　a　simulation　study　on　the　reciprocating　packed　bed　magnetic　refrigeration　cycle　is　presented　with　the　special　emphasis　on　the　influence　of　the　different　magnetocaloric　effect　evaluated　methods,　where　Gd　and　water　working　as　magnetic　material　and　heat　transfer　fluid.　With　the　help　of　Finite　Element　Method　(FEM),　the　numerical　solutions　of　the　thermodynamic　equations　of　Gd　and　water　can　be　obtained.　Utilizing　the　FEM,　the　two　methods　can　lead　to　same　results　when　the　time　interval　approaches　zero.　For　a　comparatively　large　time　interval,　the　accurate　heat　expelled　to　the　high-temperature　reservoir　can　be　achieved　via　the　straightforward　adiabatic　temperature　change　method　while　the　accurate　heat　absorbing　from　the　low-temperature　reservoir　can　be　obtained　via　the　built-in　method.　Moreover,　calculated　Coefficient　of　Performance　(COP)　via　the　straightforward　adiabatic　temperature　change　method　is　larger　than　that　via　the　built-in　method.　©　2023　The　Authors