Richard J. Gaylord
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
University of Illinois, Urbana-ChampaignLouis J. D'Andria
Wolfram Research, Inc.
Champaign, Il.
"This book describes how to create with minimal, often beautiful Mathematica code, computer models of complex human interactions involving agents (people) who follow changeable heuristics -rules of thumb- in their day to day behavior. The topics addressed in this book -movements, fads, norms, game playing, social networks, culture, and conformity- span traditional social scientific boundaries. Many of the models assume that others - friends, family, peers, and role models- influence our actions. By deconstructing the code and discussing how to extend it to richer models, this book says "Here is how to make your own models". This book should whet your appetite for a deeper look at simulation models in the social sciences. This book is "like a box of chocolates". You really never do know what you might get. That's the wonder of computational modeling. You define the world, then sit back and watch it evolve."
--From the Foreword Written by Scott E. Page
Department of Economics, University of Iowa
Mathematica is used as the programming language for implementing these models as computer simulations. The authors have chosen this language because it has a number of features which make it uniquely qualified to be used by social scientists, especially those without expertise in computer programming. Users can easily access the various 3.0 Mathematica notebooks and readily interact with them, since the code of every program and other data relating to the text will be available at www.telospub.com.
1998/240 pages/Softcover
ISBN 0-387-98532-8
"This book is excellent! Agent-based modeling in Mathematica is surprisingly straight-forward and amazingly flexible. The approach can address an amazing range of social science research problems and, best of all, the book makes learning how to do simulations both easy and fun. "
--Jon Davis, College of Commerce
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The online files are compatible with NEXTSTEP, DOS, Windows, Macintosh and most UNIX computer systems. Mathematica 2.0 or higher is recommended to fully utilize the contents.MathReader is a freely available program that will allow you to read (and print) any Mathematica notebook on most computer platforms.
Foreword by Scott E. Page
- What This Book is About
- Introduction
- Modeling a Society of Interacting Mobile
- Heterogeneous Individuals
- Cultural Exchange
- Transmitting Culture
- Socioeconomic Transactions
- Deciding Whether or Not to Interact
- Choosing How to Behave
- Group Interactions
- Grouping and Conforming
- Social Norms, Fads and Fashions
- Nonlocality
- Social Networking
- Moving To Far-Flung Locations
- Appendix A How Mathematica Works
- Appendix B List and Matrix Essentials
- Appendix C Graphics and Efficiency
Richard J. Gaylord is a Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He is co-author of two other Mathematica-related books published by TELOS/Springer-Verlag. His research interests are in the area of algorithmic science, the modeling of natural phenomena with computer programs. Outside of his professional interests in simulating social phenomena, he is a dedicated movie go-er.Louis J. D'Andria holds a graduate degree in mathematics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and works as a Mathematica programmer for Wolfram Research, Inc. In addition to computer modeling, his interests include number theory, document programming, computational problem solving and gardening.
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PO Box 2485
Secaucus, NJ 07096-2485
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- To order by fax: 201-348-4505
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