Organizers
Stephen
Majeski,
Mark
S. Handcock,
Edgar
Kiser,
Co-sponsored by the
Department of Political Science, Department of Sociology
and
Center
for Statistics and the Social Sciences,
and the
American Sociological Association Methodology Section
Spurred by
advances in evolutionary game theory and agent-based modeling, there has been a
resurgence of interest in computational modeling and computer simulation across
the social sciences.
In social
science, computational and simulation modeling are providing new ways to
approach theorizing about society and testing those models. Of particular interest to sociologists,
political scientists, economists, and anthropologists, has been the question of
how the actions of individuals or groups and their interactions lead to or
create various social structures. The
modeling of these processes has often been constrained in a variety of ways to
make formal analysis tractable. With the
availability of more powerful computing and constantly more sophisticated
computer programs, a new way, led by people such as Robert Axelrod, Joshua
Epstein and Robert Axtell, and Thomas Schelling, to approach these problems has
evolved.
This new
approach comes with a variety of labels; agent-based modeling, bottom-up
modeling, and artificial social systems.
In all cases, the purpose of these approaches is to understand the
properties of complex social systems through the analysis of simulations. A set of explicit assumptions about some
social phenomena is made. The model is
then used to generate simulated data that is then analyzed inductively. Scholars search for patterns in the simulated
data; particularly the large-scale effects from the interactions of locally
interacting agents or what Epstein and Axtell refer to as "emergent
properties" of the system. Since
most models treat agents as boundedly rational who employ adaptive learning, it
is emerging as a major alternative to the dominant rational choice based
modeling approach; one that can be applied to both the more traditional
behavioral, material based and social constructivist approaches to theorizing
about social phenomena.
The promise of
these models is to allow scholars to bridge the gap between abstract theory and
the complexity and particularity of historical reality. An interest in simulations thus unites more
qualitative/historical and more quantitatively oriented scholars.
Agent-based
modeling and other forms of computational modeling and simulation have
established strong footholds in sociology, political science, economics, and
anthropology.
In political
science, for instance, substantial work in American Politics and International
Relations has emerged in the past ten years.
Dynamic interdisciplinary research groups focused on computational
modeling of social processes have been established at
5:00-7:00pm
“Introduction to Agent-based Modeling”
Kenneth
Kollman, University of Michigan, Dept. of Political Science
A brief overview of the issues in computational, simulation and
agent-based modeling aimed at introducing sociologists to the framing and
current issues in these areas.
7:00-8:00pm Welcoming
Reception
Center for Statistics and the Social Sciences
C14 Padelford Hall
8:45-9:15am Coffee
9:15-9:30am Welcome and Introductions
The Emperor's Dilemma: A Computational Model of Self-Enforcing Norms
Michael Macy, Cornell University, Dept. of Sociology
10:30-10:45am Break
Paul A.
Waddell,
Overview of the
UrbanSim model and validation in
Eugene-Springfield
Lunch
12:00-1:30pm
(Boxed
lunch provided to participants and registered guests)
Session
3. 1:30-2:30pm
“Computational Models of Social Forms: Advancing Generative Macro Theory”
Lars-Erik Cederman, Harvard University, Dept. of Government
2:30-2:45pm Break
Session 4. 2:45-3:45pm
“Multinomial Choice with Social Interactions”
Steven
Durlauf, University of Wisconsin, Dept. of Economics
3:45-4:00pm Break
“Neighborhood Choice and Neighborhood Change”
Robert
Mare and Elizabeth Bruch, UCLA, Dept of Sociology
9:00-9:30am Coffee and Introductions
Session 6. 9:30-10:30am
“Statistical Inference for Deterministic
Simulation Models: Bayesian Melding and Model Averaging”
Adrian Raftery, University of Washington, Depts. of Sociology and
Statistics and Center for Statistics and the Social Sciences
10:30-10:45am Break
“Modeling Complex Ethical Agents”
Lunch
12:00-1:30pm
(Boxed
lunch provided to participants and registered guests)
“Economic
Production as Chemistry”
John Padgett University of Chicago, Dept. of
Sociology
2:30-2:45pm Break
Session 9.
2:45-3:45pm
“Examining
How Sanctioning Behavior and Status Behavior May Promote the Evolution of
Cooperation”
Noah Mark, Stanford University, Dept. of
Sociology
3:45-4:00pm Break
“Beyond Stipulative Semantics: Agent-Based Models of ‘Thick’ Social Interaction”
David Sylvan, Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva
5:00-6:00pm Break
|
Professor Stephen J. Majeski |
Email
majeski@u.washington.edu |
|
Department of Political Science |
Web: http://www.polisci.washington.edu |
|
|
Phone: (206) 543-2780 |
|
Box 353530 |
Phone: (206) 685-2146 |
|
|
|
Or to:
|
Professor Mark S. Handcock |
Email: handcock@stat.washington.edu |
|
Center for Statistics and the Social Sciences |
Web:www.stat.washington.edu/~handcock |
|
University of Washington |
Phone: (206)
221-6930 |
|
C014 Padelford Hall |
Fax: (208)
445-5942 |
|
Seattle, Washington, 98195-4320 |
|
Dates and
times
The conference
will start on Thursday, May 8th,
Location
The conference
will be held on the campus of
Accommodations
A block of
rooms has been reserved at the Best Western University Tower, University
District (http://www.meany.com). To make reservations call Best Western
1-800-899-0251 and reference the “UW-PoliSci" block of rooms. We have
negotiated a rate of $99/night.
Registration
Please click, fill out and submit the registration form below. Those who are interested in attending the meeting but do not plan to present papers are encouraged to inform the co-organizers by the end of April to facilitate planning for the conference.
Map of the UW (gif format 465 kB)
Here are some links that may provide some suggestions:
· A guide to the restaurants in the University District.
·
Our famous computer science department once
maintained a very nice list of local restaurants, reviewed by faculty. That
list is now replaced with the following: "Allow us to suggest a web search
on <
Here are some suggestions:
1. Get a reservation. Especially Friday night. You won't be a happy camper if you think you can just walk in and get a table.
2. Best Steak Houses:
1. Metropolitan Grill, 820 2nd Avenue Seattle, WA 206-624-3287
2.
Daniel's Broiler (on
3. Best Bistros Down/Bell Town:
1.
Dahlia Lounge,
2.
Etta's Seafood,
3.
Palace Kitchen,
4. Avenue One, 1921 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, 206.441.6139 (great bar; super wine list; get table in back room overlooking water if possible), http://www.avenueone.citysearch.com/4.html.
5.
Le Pichet,
6.
Campagne,
7.
Café Campagne, 1600 Post Alley,
8.
Queen City Grill,
9.
Brasa,
10.
Cascadia,
11.
Lampreia,
12.
Rovers, 2808
13.
Wild Ginger,
14.
Flying Fish,
15.
Fandango,
The conference will have an dinner on Saturday evening.
