Introduction to Computational Modeling of Social Systems (851-0593-00)

Schedule, slides and readings

24.10.2006: Introduction and logistics [Slides]

Course logistics including tools and readings. Overview of contents.

Readings
Schelling, Thomas C. 1978. Micromotives and Macrobehavior. New York: W. W. Norton. Chaps. 1, 5.

31.10.2006: Java Primer - Gearing up [Slides]

Short Java introduction

Readings
Niemeyer/Knudsen Chaps. 5-6; Eckel Chaps. 1-2; or Schildt Modules 4-7
Niemeyer/Knudsen Chap. 4 (Arrays), Chapter 11 (Collections); Eckel Chaps. 5, 8, 11; or Schildt Module 8

31.10.2006: Principles of agent-based modelling [Slides]

Conceptual introduction to agent-based modeling

Readings
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.

14.11.2006: A hand-crafted agent-based model [Slides]

Schelling's model from scratch

Readings
Schelling, Thomas C. 1978. Micromotives and Macrobehavior. New York: W. W. Norton. Chaps. 1, 5.

21.11.2006: RePast Tutorial I [Slides]

Practical aspects of running agent-based simulations.

Readings
Cohen, Riolo, and Axelrod. 1999. The Emergence of Social Organization in the Prisoner's Dilemma: How Context-Preservation and other Factors Promote Cooperation (SFI Working Paper).
North, Collier, and Vos. 2006. Experiences Creating Three Implementations of the Repast Agent Modeling Toolkit

28.11.2006: RePast Tutorial II [Slides]

Practical aspects of running agent-based simulations.

Readings
RePast web page: " How to build a model ", " How to use the GUI ", " How to work with random numbers "

5.12.2006: RePast Tutorial III [Slides]

Practical aspects of running agent-based simulations.

Readings
RePast web page: " How to create charts ", " How to create displays ", " Spaces overview "

12.12.2006: RePast Tutorial IV [Slides]

Practical aspects of running agent-based simulations.

Readings
RePast web page: " How to build a RePast Model - 2", " How to Use Parameters and Parameter files"

19.12.2006: Emergent Network Models [Slides]

Scale-free networks, RePast's network support

Readings
Albert, Réka and Albert-László Barabási. 2001. Statistical Mechanics of Complex Networks.
Strogatz, S.H. 2001. Exploring complex networks. Nature 410: 268-276.

9.1.2007: Emergent Structure Models [Slides]

Schelling's segregation model, measuring property configurations, Axelrod's culture model

Readings
Axelrod, Robert. 1997. The Dissemination of Culture. Journal of Conflict Resolution 41 (1997): 203-226.

16.1.2006: Emergent Actor Models I [Slides]

GeoContest - Introduction

Readings
The GeoContest homepage
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.

23.1.2006: Emergent Actor Models II [Slides]

Applications in world politics

Readings
Fearon & Laitin. 2003. Ethnicity, Insurgency, and Civil War. American Political Science Review 97: 75-90 Cambridge University Press
Cederman, Lars-Erik. 2003. Modeling the Size of Wars: From Billiard Balls to Sandpiles. American Political Science Review.

23.1.2006: Emergent Actor Models III [Slides]

GeoContest - results, presentation of the contest and the winners.