Ebook: Cooperative Agents: Applications in the Social Sciences

Agent-based modelling on a computer appears to have a special role to play in the development of social science. It offers a means of discovering general and applicable social theory, and grounding it in precise assumptions and derivations, whilst addressing those elements of individual cognition that are central to human society. However, there are important questions to be asked and difficulties to overcome in achieving this potential. What differentiates agent-based modelling from traditional computer modelling? Which model types should be used under which circumstances? If it is appropriate to use a complex model, how can it be validated? Is social simulation research to adopt a realist epistemology, or can it operate within a social constructionist framework? What are the sociological concepts of norms and norm processing that could either be used for planned implementation or for identifying equivalents of social norms among co-operative agents? Can sustainability be achieved more easily in a hierarchical agent society than in a society of isolated agents? What examples are there of hybrid forms of interaction between humans and artificial agents? These are some of the sociological questions that are addressed.

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Agent-based modelling on a computer appears to have a special role to play in the development of social science. It offers a means of discovering general and applicable social theory, and grounding it in precise assumptions and derivations, whilst addressing those elements of individual cognition that are central to human society. However, there are important questions to be asked and difficulties to overcome in achieving this potential. What differentiates agent-based modelling from traditional computer modelling? Which model types should be used under which circumstances? If it is appropriate to use a complex model, how can it be validated? Is social simulation research to adopt a realist epistemology, or can it operate within a social constructionist framework? What are the sociological concepts of norms and norm processing that could either be used for planned implementation or for identifying equivalents of social norms among co-operative agents? Can sustainability be achieved more easily in a hierarchical agent society than in a society of isolated agents? What examples are there of hybrid forms of interaction between humans and artificial agents? These are some of the sociological questions that are addressed.

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Agent-based modelling on a computer appears to have a special role to play in the development of social science. It offers a means of discovering general and applicable social theory, and grounding it in precise assumptions and derivations, whilst addressing those elements of individual cognition that are central to human society. However, there are important questions to be asked and difficulties to overcome in achieving this potential. What differentiates agent-based modelling from traditional computer modelling? Which model types should be used under which circumstances? If it is appropriate to use a complex model, how can it be validated? Is social simulation research to adopt a realist epistemology, or can it operate within a social constructionist framework? What are the sociological concepts of norms and norm processing that could either be used for planned implementation or for identifying equivalents of social norms among co-operative agents? Can sustainability be achieved more easily in a hierarchical agent society than in a society of isolated agents? What examples are there of hybrid forms of interaction between humans and artificial agents? These are some of the sociological questions that are addressed.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-vii
Introduction....Pages 1-4
What are Agents and What are They for?....Pages 5-20
Agent Models of Software Technology....Pages 21-37
Social Norms for Co-Operative Agents....Pages 39-56
Can Agent-Based Modelling Really be Useful?....Pages 57-81
Fraud, Exchange and Co-Operation....Pages 83-107
Hunting the Unicorn....Pages 109-124
Social Influence among Agents....Pages 125-147
Enrolling Software Agents in Human Organisations....Pages 149-163
Hybrid Learning Communities in Agent-Based Intelligent Distributed Learning Environments....Pages 165-182
Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation for Hospital Management....Pages 183-202
Back Matter....Pages 203-216

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Agent-based modelling on a computer appears to have a special role to play in the development of social science. It offers a means of discovering general and applicable social theory, and grounding it in precise assumptions and derivations, whilst addressing those elements of individual cognition that are central to human society. However, there are important questions to be asked and difficulties to overcome in achieving this potential. What differentiates agent-based modelling from traditional computer modelling? Which model types should be used under which circumstances? If it is appropriate to use a complex model, how can it be validated? Is social simulation research to adopt a realist epistemology, or can it operate within a social constructionist framework? What are the sociological concepts of norms and norm processing that could either be used for planned implementation or for identifying equivalents of social norms among co-operative agents? Can sustainability be achieved more easily in a hierarchical agent society than in a society of isolated agents? What examples are there of hybrid forms of interaction between humans and artificial agents? These are some of the sociological questions that are addressed.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-vii
Introduction....Pages 1-4
What are Agents and What are They for?....Pages 5-20
Agent Models of Software Technology....Pages 21-37
Social Norms for Co-Operative Agents....Pages 39-56
Can Agent-Based Modelling Really be Useful?....Pages 57-81
Fraud, Exchange and Co-Operation....Pages 83-107
Hunting the Unicorn....Pages 109-124
Social Influence among Agents....Pages 125-147
Enrolling Software Agents in Human Organisations....Pages 149-163
Hybrid Learning Communities in Agent-Based Intelligent Distributed Learning Environments....Pages 165-182
Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation for Hospital Management....Pages 183-202
Back Matter....Pages 203-216
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