Schedule
30.03.2004: Introduction
Course logistics including tools and readings. Overview of contents.
06.04.2004: Examples of agent-based models in the social sciences
A survey of agent-based modeling in political science, economics, and sociology.
- Schelling, Thomas C. 1978. Micromotives and Macrobehavior. New York: W. W. Norton. Chaps. 1, 5.
13.04.2004: The principles of agent-based modeling
Conceptual introduction to agent-based modeling. Installation of Java, RePast, and development environment.
- Axelrod, Robert. 1997. “Advancing the Art of Simulation in the Social Sciences.” In Simulating Social Phenomena, ed. Rosaria Conte, Rainer Hegselmann, and Pietro Terna. Berlin: Springer Verlag.
- The Political Methodologist. 2001. Special issue on computational modeling (Number 1, Fall), pp. 12-27.
Also recommended:
- Cederman, Lars-Erik. “Computational Models of Social Forms: Advancing Generative Macro Theory.” Ms. Harvard University.
- Rosser, J. Barkley Jr. 1999. “On the Complexities of Complex Economic Dynamics.” Journal of Economic Perspectives 13: 169-192.
20.04.2004: Java I
Homework A handed out
Overview of the language. Object-orientation. Arrays and constants.
- Eckel Chaps. 1-4; or Schildt Modules 1-5
27.04.2004: Java II
Homework B handed out
More on object-orientation (inheritance; interfaces etc). Collections.
- Eckel Chaps. 6-8, 11; or Schildt Modules 6, 7
See also Sun Tutorial on collections
04.05.2004: Introduction to RePast and Tutorial I
Homework A due
Term Paper Assignment handed out
History of RePast: Main features. Introduction to the tutorial and the template mechanism. How to create and run a simple RePast model. The control panel.
- Cohen, Riolo, and Axelrod. 1999. “The Emergence of Social Organization in the Prisoner's Dilemma” (SFI Working Paper).
- Nick Collier. 2002. "RePast: An Extensible Framework for Agent Simulation."
- Collier, Nicholson, and Howe, Thomas R. 2003. "RePast 2.0: Major Changes and New Features".
- RePast web page: “How to build a model”, “How to use the GUI”
11.05.2004: RePast Tutorial II
Homework B due
Homework C handed out
Using collections and random numbers in a simple evolutionary model.
- RePast web page: “How to work with random numbers”
18.05.2004: RePast Tutorial III
Project memo due
Graphical user interfaces. Charts.
- RePast web page: “How to create charts”
25.05.2004: RePast Tutorial IV
Homework C due
Graphical displays. Grids. Probes.
- RePast web page: “How to create displays”, "How to use spaces"
01.06.2004: RePast Tutorial V
Batch runs. Parameter files. Output files. Advanced topics: schedules; customization.
- RePast web page: “How to use parameters and parameter files”, “How to collect data”, “How to use a schedule”, “How to create custom actions”, “How to create property descriptors”
08.06.2004: Evolutionary agents
15.06.2004: Emergent-structure models
- Axelrod, Robert. 1997. The Complexity of Cooperation, Chap. 7. First published in the Journal of Conflict Resolution 41 (1997): 203-226.
22.06.2004: Emergent-network models
- Albert, Réka and Alert-László Barabási. 2001. “Statistical Mechanics of Complex Networks.”
- Strogatz, S.H. 2001. “Exploring complex networks.” Nature 410: 268-276.
29.06.2004: Emergent-actor models
- Cederman, Lars-Erik. 2002. “Endogenizing Geopolitical Boundaries with Agent-Based Modeling.” Proceedings of the National Academy 99: 7796-7303. PDF Hollis e-resources.
- Cederman, Lars-Erik. 2003. “Modeling the Size of Wars: From Billiard Balls to Sandpiles.” American Political Science Review.