851-0585-04L Lecture with Computer Exercises: Modelling and Simulating Social Systems with MATLAB
Semester | Spring Semester 2011 |
Lecturers | K. Donnay, S. Balietti |
Periodicity | every semester recurring course |
Language of instruction | English |
Courses
Number | Title | Hours | Lecturers | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
851-0585-04 G | Lecture with Computer Exercises: Modelling and Simulating Social Systems with MATLAB | 2 hrs |
| K. Donnay, S. Balietti |
Catalogue data
Abstract | This course introduces the mathematical software package MATLAB. Students should learn to implement models of various social processes and systems, and document their skills by a seminar thesis. |
Objective | The students should learn how to use MATLAB as a tool to solve various scientific problems. MATLAB is an integrated environment with a high level programming language which makes it possible to quickly find numerical solutions to a wide range of scientific problems. Furthermore, it includes a rich set of tools for graphically presenting the results. After the students have learned the basic structure of the programming language, they should be able to implement social simulation models in MATLAB and document their skills by a seminar thesis. |
Content | This course introduces first the basic functionalities and features of the mathematical software package MATLAB, such as the simple operation with matrices and vectors, differential equations, statistical tools, the graphical representation of data in various forms, and video animations of spatio-temporal data. With this knowledge, students are expected to implement themselves in MATLAB models of various social processes and systems, including agent-based models, e.g. models of interactive decision making, group dynamics, human crowds, or game-theoretical models. Part of this course will consist of supervised programming exercises in a computer pool. Credit points are finally earned for the implementation of a mathematical model from the sociological literature in MATLAB and the documentation in a seminar thesis. |
Lecture notes | The lecture transparencies will be presented on the course web page after each lecture. |
Literature | [1] The built-in Matlab documentation [2] MATLAB Primer, Seventh Edition, Timothy A. Davis and Kermit Sigmon, (Chapman & Hall, 2004) [2] MATLAB kompakt, Wolfgang Schweizer, (Oldenbourg, 2006) Further literature, in particular regarding computer models in the social sciences, will be provided in the course. |
Prerequisites / Notice | The number of participants is limited to the size of the available computer teaching room. The computer codes related to the seminar thesis should be well enough documented forfurther use by others and must be handed over to the Chair of Sociology, in particular of Modeling and Simulation for further free and unrestricted use. |
Performance assessment
Performance assessment information (valid until the course unit is held again) | |
Performance assessment as a semester course | |
ECTS credits | 3 credits |
Examiners | S. Balietti, K. Donnay |
Type | graded semester performance |
Language of examination | English |
Repetition | Repetition possible without re-enrolling for the course unit. |
Admission requirement | Students have to earn their credit points by implementing an established mathematical model from the sociological literature in MATLAB. Furthermore, they have to document their project in a 30 page seminar thesis and present it in a 15 minute seminar talk. |
Additional information on mode of examination | The thesis should include a discussion of the mathematical model, the sociological concept behind it, the meaning of formulas, properties of the model, and parameter dependencies, but also possible practical implications. The computer code should be sufficiently well documented. |
Learning materials
No public learning materials available. | |
Only public learning materials are listed. |
Groups
No information on groups available. |
Restrictions
There are no additional restrictions for the registration. |
Offered in
Programme | Section | Type | |
---|---|---|---|
Humanities, Social and Political Sciences | Sociology | Z | |
Compulsory Electives GESS | Sociology | W |