851-0585-04L  Lecture with Computer Exercises: Modelling and Simulating Social Systems with MATLAB

SemesterSpring Semester 2011
LecturersK. Donnay, S. Balietti
Periodicityevery semester recurring course
Language of instructionEnglish



Courses

NumberTitleHoursLecturers
851-0585-04 GLecture with Computer Exercises: Modelling and Simulating Social Systems with MATLAB2 hrs
Mon17:15-19:00HG E 27 »
K. Donnay, S. Balietti

Catalogue data

AbstractThis 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.
ObjectiveThe 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.
ContentThis 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 notesThe 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 / NoticeThe 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 credits3 credits
ExaminersS. Balietti, K. Donnay
Typegraded semester performance
Language of examinationEnglish
RepetitionRepetition possible without re-enrolling for the course unit.
Admission requirementStudents 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 examinationThe 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

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Only public learning materials are listed.

Groups

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Restrictions

There are no additional restrictions for the registration.

Offered in

ProgrammeSectionType
Humanities, Social and Political SciencesSociologyZInformation
Compulsory Electives GESSSociologyWInformation