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SYLLABUS

Agent-based Modelling in the Social Sciences, 7,5 ECTS Credits

COURSE CATEGORY   Fristående kurs MAIN FIELD OF STUDY   Sociologi - SOA SUBJECT AREA   Sociology – SO1   COURSE CODE   771A01

AIM OF THE COURSE

After completing the course the student should at an advanced level be able to - describe key applications of agent-based simulation modeling (ABM) in the social sciences - explain the logic behind and the explanatory role of agent-based modeling - design and program different types of agent-based models - run agent-based computational experiments - evaluate the results of agent-based simulations through various forms of statistical sensitivity analyses

CONTENTS

Agent-based modeling is an important methodology for analyzing how groups of interacting individuals or other types of agents bring about various macro outcomes. This course provides a detailed introduction to the agent-based model (ABM) technique. The course covers all the steps in the process of developing an ABM, from theoretical design to model implementation and model evaluation. In the course, an ABM is implemented using object-oriented programing, where the treatment of different types of variables, commands, and procedures are included. The course includes practical work with various types of computer-based experiments, as well as methods for evaluating the robustness of simulation results using various statistical sensitivity analyses.

TEACHING

The course is organized around class discussions, computer-intensive laboratory sessions, and supervised independent work. In addition, students should do independent reading on their own.Language of instruction: English or Swedish Language of instruction: English

EXAMINATION

The examination consists of individual programming assignments and a final project, to be determined by the teacher of the course.Detailed information about the examination can be found in the course’s study guide. Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination. Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree/kandidatexamen of at least 180 ECTS credits, including a 15 ECTS credit degree paper, or equivalent, within humanities, behavioral or social sciences, natural sciences, mathematics, statistics, economics, or computer science. Documented knowledge of English equivalent to Engelska B/Engelska 6.

GRADING

The course is graded according to the ECTS grading scale A-F

CERTIFICATE

Course certificate is issued by the Faculty Board on request. The Department provides a special form which should be submitted to the Student Affairs Division.

COURSE LITERATURE

The course literature is decided upon by the department in question.

OTHER INFORMATION

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. The course is carried out in such a way that both men´s and women´s experience and knowledge is made visible and developed.

Agent-based Modelling in the Social Sciences Agent-based Modelling in the Social Sciences   Department responsible for the course or equivalent: IEI - Department of Management and Engineering             Registrar No: 2016-00201   Course Code: 771A01           Exam codes: see Local Computer System       Subject/Subject Area : Sociologi - SOA                       Level   Education level     Subject Area Code   Field of Education   A1X   Advanced level       SA   The syllabus was approved by the Board of Faculty of Arts and Science 2016-01-29