Modelling of Social Phenomena

Fall 2015


Schedule:Tuesdays & Thursdays 3.00pm - 4.30pm
Room:Stiteler Hall, B30
Instructor:Alexander Funcke
Office:313 Claudia Cohen Hall
Email:funcke@0z.se (note: that is a zero)
Mailing list:Link to MoSP15 (please make sure you are subscribed to the list)

Instructions

Please note that all readings are to be read carefully and critically.

Evaluation

Class participation makes up for 40% of the final grade. Students are expected to be present, prepared and engaged. There will be a midterm project that will account for 40% of the grade, and lastly a final paper accounting for the remaining 20% of the grade.

For the papers students are expected to apply the knowledged gained and not least the modeling way of thinking to a question of their choice. Relate it to the philosophical literature, incorporate critique from thier classmates and produce a write up of approximately 10-15 pages each. The paper will be judged as if they were scientific papers, but generously. That is they should be scientifically sound, be interesting and well-written.

Groups

Group AGroup B
GillianCurtis
YaBarbera
MichaelSamuel
RuthAlba

Classes

Class NoDateTopicReadingsHomework Group AHomework Group B
02015-08-27Introduction
12015-09-01Thomas Schelling's model of segregationhttp://www.jstor.org/stable/1823701Emanuel Derman, Theories, Models, and Science, Econtalk, 2012, http://www.econtalk.org/archives/2012/03/derman_on_theor.html
22015-09-03Mark Granovetter's model of threshold modelshttp://www.jstor.org/stable/2778111
http://www.wired.com/2015/08/scientific-literacy-really-mean/
32015-09-17Game theory / micro- / macroeconomics - a fly over reminderhttp://dklevine.com/general/whatis.htm
42015-09-22Instrumentalism - Milton Friedman / Realism - Uskali Makihttp://digamo.free.fr/hausman82.pdf#page=76 and http://digamo.free.fr/hausman82.pdf#page=219
52015-09-24Rhetorics & Sugdenhttp://digamo.free.fr/hausman82.pdf#page=211
http://digamo.free.fr/hausman82.pdf#page=241
62015-09-29Economics and epidemology: Two case studieshttp://homepage.math.uiowa.edu/~hethcote/PDFs/1989BioMath.pdf and http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/economics/
72015-10-01Workshop on the phenomena to studyRead up on the social phenomena, and prepare to present your findingsWrite a paragraph or two about your view on philosophy of science, with reference to the previous readings
82015-10-06Present first sketch of questions and modeling (1)Outline your first sketch of questions and prepare a presentation.Write a paragraph or two about your view on philosophy of science, with reference to the previous readings.
92015-10-13Present first sketch of questions and modeling (2)Outline your first sketch of questions and prepare a presentation.
102015-10-15Second draft plus workshop (1)Write up a draft of your paper and prepare a presentation.
112015-10-20Second draft plus workshop (2)Read the other group's corresponding member's outline page AND Write up a draft of your paper and prepare a presentation.
122015-10-22How to test a modelWork on midtermRead the other group's corresponding member's outline page
132015-10-27Present final models (1)Hand in midtermCreate a presentation, as if you where to present this for the research community at large
142015-10-29Present final models (2)Create a presentation, as if you where to present this for the research community at large
152015-11-03What is agent-based modeling? (1)
162015-11-05Present how you could use ABM technique for your modelMake a presentation on how you would adapt your model
172015-11-10What are experiments?http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.polisci.5.091001.170657
182015-11-12Present how you could use experimental technique for your modelMake a presentation on how you would adapt your model
192015-11-17What are evolutionary models?
202015-11-19Present how you could use evolutionary models for your modelMake a presentation on how you would adapt your model
212015-11-24Second try, what would be a good question to ask and model? (1)Write a page outlining your first sketch of questions and prepare a presentation.
222015-12-01Second try, what would be a good question to ask and model? (2)Write a page outlining your first sketch of questions and prepare a presentation.
232015-12-03TBA
242015-12-08OutroHand in final paper
http://www.nytimes.com/1986/06/17/science/prisoner-s-dilemma-has-unexpected-applications.html?pagewanted=all
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/09/opinion/whose-neighborhood-is-it.html?_r=0

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