Tools and Techniques for Social Science Simulation

Softcover Nachdruck of the original 1. Auflage 2000
ISBN: 978-3-7908-1265-7
Verlag: Physica-Verlag HD

Buch, Englisch, 387 Seiten, Paperback, Format (B × H): 155 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 598 g

The use of computer simulations to study social phenomena has grown rapidly during the last few years. Many social scientists from the fields of economics, sociology, psychology and other disciplines now use computer simulations to study a wide range of social phenomena. The availability of powerful personal computers, the development of multidisciplinary approaches and the use of artificial intelligence models have all contributed to this development. The benefits of using computer simulations in the social sciences are obvious. This holds true for the use of simulations as tools for theory building and for its implementation as a tool for sensitivity analysis and parameter optimization in application-oriented models. In both, simulation provides powerful tools for the study of complex social systems, especially for dynamic and multi-agent social systems in which mathematical tractability is often impossible. The graphical display of simulation output renders it user friendly to many social scientists that lack sufficient familiarity with the language of mathematics. The present volume aims to contribute in four directions: (1) To examine theoretical and methodological issues related to the application of simulations in the social sciences. By this we wish to promote the objective of designing a unified, user-friendly, simulation toolkit which could be applied to diverse social problems. While no claim is made that this objective has been met, the theoretical issues treated in Part 1 of this volume are a contribution towards this objective.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Suleiman, Ramzi

Gilbert, Nigel

Troitzsch, Klaus G.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

I Simulations as Tools for Modelling and Theory Building.- 1 Models, Processes and Algorithms: Towards a Simulation Toolkit.- 2 Questions in the Methodology of Artificial Societies.- 3 Computer Assisted Interfacing: On the Use of Computer Simulation for Theory Construction.- 4 Interactive Neural Networks as Tools for Modeling Social Systems.- II Multi-Agent Based Simulations.- 5 SMASS: A Serial Multi-Agent System for Social Simulion.- 6 PECS: A Reference Model for the Simulation of Multi-Agent Systems.- 7 Bedrock: Building Multi-Agent Simulation Applications.- 8 Diversity in Strategies of Partnership Formation.- III Game Theory and Cellular Automata.- 9 Cellular Automata Models as a Modelling Tool.- 10 Evolution of Learning Rules in Space.- 11 Maintaining Diversity: Simulating the Role of Nonliniarity and Discreteness in Dynamic Social Impact.- 12 Representation Methods and the Emergence of Inter-Group Cooperation.- IV Sensitivity Analysis.- 13 Sensitivity Analysis in the Social Sciences: Problems and Prospects.- 14 Tests of Dynamic Social Models with Time Related Surveys: an Experimental Approach.- 15 What Is the Use of Gossip? A Sensitivity Analysis of the Spreading of Respectful Reputation.- V Applications.- 16 Modelling Greening Investors: Economic Development, Opinion Formation, and Technological Change in a Multilevel Simulation Model.- 17 Microsimulating Farm Business Performance.- 18 Ordering Parameters in the Rule Space of Social Systems.- Biographical Sketches.- Author Index.