Synopses & Reviews
"Highly recommended. . . . This is an important book in putting the burgeoning field of sociodynamics on a solid footing."
Journal of Artificial Societies and Social SimulationThis text deals with general modelling concepts in the social sciences, their applications, and their mathematical methods. The author's well-organized approach offers a clear, coherent introduction to terminology, approaches, and goals in modelling. Appropriate for advanced undergraduates and graduate students, it requires a solid background in algebra and calculus.
The three-part treatment begins by addressing general modelling concepts, the second part provides applications, and the third discusses mathematical method. Topics include population dynamics, group interaction, political transitions, evolutionary economics, and urbanization. Guiding students through a series of practical applications that illustrate the methods' potential scope, the text concludes with a detailed look at mathematical methods.
Synopsis
This three-part treatment deals with general modelling concepts in the social sciences, their applications, and their mathematical methods. Appropriate for advanced undergraduates and graduate students, it was "highly recommended" by the
Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation. Wolfgang Weidlich is Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Stuttgart.
Synopsis
Appropriate for advanced undergraduates and graduate students, this text introduces terminology, approaches, and goals in modelling. Topics include population dynamics, group interaction, political transitions, evolutionary economics, and urbanization. 2002 edition.
Synopsis
Appropriate for advanced undergraduates and graduate students, this text introduces terminology, approaches, and goals in modelling. Topics include population dynamics, group interaction, political transitions, evolutionary economics, and urbanization. 2002 edition.
Table of Contents
Part I. Structures and Modelling Concepts
1. The Structure of Reality Under Interdisciplinary Perspective
2. Quantitative Modelling in Social Science
3. The General Modelling Concept of Sociodynamics
Part II. Selected Applications
4. Migration of Interacting Populations
5. Group Dynamics: The Rise and Fall of Interacting Social Groups
6. Opinion Formation on the Verge of Political Phase-Transitions
7. Quality Competition between High-Tech Firms
8. Dynamics of Conventional and Fashion Demand
9. Urban Evolution and Population Pressure
Part III. Mathematical Methods
10. The Master Equation
11. Evolution Equations for Meanvalues and Variances in Configuration Space
12. Stochastic Trajectories and Dynamic Equations for Quasi-Meanvalues
References and Related Literature
Author Index
Subject Index