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

SemesterAutumn Semester 2016
LecturersD. Helbing, L. Sanders, O. Woolley
Periodicityyearly recurring course
Language of instructionEnglish
CommentNumber of participants limited to 70.

Particularly suitable for students of D-MAVT, D-INFK, D-ITET, D-MTEC, D-PHYS.



Courses

NumberTitleHoursLecturers
851-0585-04 SLecture with Computer Exercises: Modelling and Simulating Social Systems with MATLAB2 hrs
Mon17:15-19:00LFV E 41 »
D. Helbing, L. Sanders, O. Woolley

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, as well as giving a short oral presentation.
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 and finally give a short oral presentation.
ContentThis course introduces first the basic functionalities and features of the mathematical software package MATLAB, such as the simple operations 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 slides will be presented on the course web page after each lecture.
Literature[1] 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 MATLAB code related to the seminar thesis should be well enough documented for further 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
ExaminersD. Helbing, L. Sanders, O. Woolley
Typegraded semester performance
Language of examinationEnglish
RepetitionRepetition possible without re-enrolling for the course unit.
Additional information on mode of examinationStudents have to implement an established mathematical model from the computational social science literature in MATLAB. During the course students have to submit a short proposal specifying their project. At the end, projects must be documented in a 15 page seminar thesis and presented in a 15 minute seminar talk. The thesis should include a discussion of the mathematical model, its theoretical concept, properties of the model, and parameter dependencies, but also possible practical implications.

Learning materials

No public learning materials available.
Only public learning materials are listed.

Groups

No information on groups available.

Restrictions

Places70 at the most
Waiting listuntil 10.09.2016

Offered in

ProgrammeSectionType
Doctoral Department of Humanities, Social and Political SciencesDoctoral and Post-Doctoral CoursesWInformation
GESS Science in PerspectiveSociologyWInformation
GESS Science in PerspectiveD-INFKWInformation
GESS Science in PerspectiveD-ITETWInformation
GESS Science in PerspectiveD-MTECWInformation
GESS Science in PerspectiveD-MAVTWInformation
GESS Science in PerspectiveD-PHYSWInformation