Agent-based social simulation (or ABSS)
consists of
social simulation
Social simulation is a research field that applies computational methods to study issues in the social sciences. The issues explored include problems in computational law, psychology, organizational behavior, sociology, political science, econom ...
s that are based on
agent-based modeling, and implemented using
artificial agent technologies.
Agent-based social simulation is a scientific discipline concerned with simulation of
social phenomena
Social phenomena or social phenomenon (singular) are any behaviours, actions, or events that takes place because of social influence, including from contemporary as well as historical societal influences. They are often a result of multifaceted pr ...
, using computer-based
multiagent models. In these simulations, persons or group of persons are represented by agents. MABSS is a combination of
social science
Social science is one of the branches of science, devoted to the study of societies and the relationships among individuals within those societies. The term was formerly used to refer to the field of sociology, the original "science of soc ...
, multiagent simulation and
computer simulation
Computer simulation is the process of mathematical modelling, performed on a computer, which is designed to predict the behaviour of, or the outcome of, a real-world or physical system. The reliability of some mathematical models can be dete ...
.
ABSS models the different elements of the social systems using artificial agents, (varying on scale) and placing them in a computer simulated society to observe the behaviors of the agents. From this data it is possible to learn about the reactions of the artificial agents and translate them into the results of non-artificial agents and simulations. Three main fields in ABSS are agent-based computing, social science, and computer simulation.
Agent-based computing is the design of the model and agents, while the computer simulation is the part of the simulation of the agents in the model and the outcomes. The social science is a mixture of sciences and social part of the model. It is where social phenomena are developed and theorized. The main purpose of ABSS is to provide models and tools for agent-based simulation of social phenomena. With ABSS, one can explore different outcomes of phenomena where it may not be possible to view the outcome in real life. It can provide us valuable information on society and the outcomes of social events or phenomena.
Principles of multiagent-based social simulation
Multi-agent system
A multi-agent system is a system created from multiple autonomous elements interacting and reacting on each other. These are called Agents. See
Agent-based model. In simulation, Agents can be used to simulate many different elements. These could be society, organism, machine, person or any other active element, which does, or does not exist in real world. In a multi-agent system, an agent is represented by a software program or algorithm. This program contains in itself all rules of agents behavior. The purpose of models could be simulation of social phenomena like transportation, market failures, cooperation and escalation and spreading of conflicts.
Agents in concept of ABSS
In Agent based social systems, agents
Emergence in context of social simulation
In agent based simulations we can observe phenomenon, when model based on simple rules results in very complex dynamics. This phenomenon is related to emergence and one of recent topic of social science is concept of emerging behavior in social science (Kontopoulos, 1993; Archer, 1995; Sawyer, 2001).
History
Sugarscape
The first widely known multi-agent generative social model was developed in 1996 by Joshua M. Epstein and Robert Axtell. The purpose of this model was simulation and research of social phenomena like seasonal migration, environmental pollution, procreation, combat, disease spreading and cultural features. Their model is based on the work of economist Thomas Schelling, presented in paper "Models of Segregation"
Thomas Schelling
Thomas Crombie Schelling (April 14, 1921 – December 13, 2016) was an American economist and professor of foreign policy, national security, nuclear strategy, and arms control at the School of Public Policy at University of Maryland, College ...
. This model represented the first generation of computer-based social simulations. Epstein and Axtell’s model was implemented using concepts from the "Game of Life" developed by
John Horton Conway
John Horton Conway (26 December 1937 – 11 April 2020) was an English mathematician active in the theory of finite groups, knot theory, number theory, combinatorial game theory and coding theory. He also made contributions to many branches ...
.
Usage for social sciences
There are three main objects of scientific implementation of ABSS (Gilbert, Trotzsch; 2005)
Understanding basic aspects of social phenomena
Like aspects involving its diffusion, dynamics or results. Such a basic models should be based on simple rules, so way in which resulting behavior emerges from system could be easily observable.
Prediction
These models are implemented to predict real life events and phenomena. Examples of use could be transportation (prediction of traffic in future to find places where traffic jams could occur), prediction of future unemployment rates etc. Problem of models made to accurately predict such an events is increasing complexity of model with number of dynamically changing parameters.
Research, testing and formulation of hypothesis
Unlike other two main objects, which have use outside Social sciences, latter one is used mainly on the field of social science. Agent-based social simulations are often used during research of new hypothesis. Simulation could be useful when there is no other way to observe agents during their actions. For example, during creation of new language, which is long-term process. Another benefit of simulation lies in fact, that to be able to prove theory in simulation, it has to be represented in formal and logical form. This leads to more coherent formulation of theory.
Multi-Agent Simulation Suites (MASS) usage for problem solving
Society and culture
Models of information diffusion in social environment
An academic article investigates an agent-based simulation of information diffusion in
Facebook
Facebook is an online social media and social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with fellow Harvard College students and roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin M ...
online social network
A social network is a social structure made up of a set of social actors (such as individuals or organizations), sets of dyadic ties, and other social interactions between actors. The social network perspective provides a set of methods for a ...
.
Organizing networks
Emergence of social phenomena
Altruism and cooperation
Ethnocentrism
Crowd behaviour
Models for natural disasters (evacuation – fire)
Economical science
Business
Market behavior models
Religion
Software used for implementing ABSS
Different agent based software have been used for implementing ABSS such as
#k@ (HASHKAT)Online social network (e.g. Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn) simulator, describes realtime dynamics, message passing, and user behavior. Available on Windows, OS X, and Linux (
Free Software
Free software or libre software is computer software distributed under terms that allow users to run the software for any purpose as well as to study, change, and distribute it and any adapted versions. Free software is a matter of liberty, no ...
)
*
Repast
Multi Agent Simulation Suite (MASS)Fablesis a component of MASS, generating Repast J models
*
Swarm (simulation)
Janus Multiagent, Organizational and Holonic Platform. (
Open Source Software
Open-source software (OSS) is computer software that is released under a license in which the copyright holder grants users the rights to use, study, change, and distribute the software and its source code to anyone and for any purpose. Open ...
)
* Ascape (an implementation of the agent based model
Sugarscape)
* Ingenias
INGENIAS Development Kit
(IDK)
SeSAm
Multiagent simulator and graphical modelling environment. (Free Software
Free software or libre software is computer software distributed under terms that allow users to run the software for any purpose as well as to study, change, and distribute it and any adapted versions. Free software is a matter of liberty, no ...
)
* NetLogo
NetLogo is a programming language and integrated development environment (IDE) for agent-based modeling.
About
NetLogo was designed by Uri Wilensky, in the spirit of the programming language Logo, to be "low threshold and no ceiling". It teache ...
(Open Source Software
Open-source software (OSS) is computer software that is released under a license in which the copyright holder grants users the rights to use, study, change, and distribute the software and its source code to anyone and for any purpose. Open ...
)
GlobalSimulate
Multiparadigm simulation and modelling environment. (Open Source Software
Open-source software (OSS) is computer software that is released under a license in which the copyright holder grants users the rights to use, study, change, and distribute the software and its source code to anyone and for any purpose. Open ...
)
GAMA
GAMA is an agent-based, spatially explicit, modeling and simulation platform. (Open Source Software
Open-source software (OSS) is computer software that is released under a license in which the copyright holder grants users the rights to use, study, change, and distribute the software and its source code to anyone and for any purpose. Open ...
)
* MASON Multi-Agent Simulator Of Neighborhoods. (Open Source Software
Open-source software (OSS) is computer software that is released under a license in which the copyright holder grants users the rights to use, study, change, and distribute the software and its source code to anyone and for any purpose. Open ...
)
See also
* Artificial life
Artificial life (often abbreviated ALife or A-Life) is a field of study wherein researchers examine systems related to natural life, its processes, and its evolution, through the use of simulations with computer models, robotics, and biochemistry ...
* Simulated reality
The simulation theory is the hypothesis that reality could be simulated—for example by quantum computer simulation—to a degree indistinguishable from "true" reality. It could contain conscious minds that may or may not know that they live i ...
* Social simulation
Social simulation is a research field that applies computational methods to study issues in the social sciences. The issues explored include problems in computational law, psychology, organizational behavior, sociology, political science, econom ...
* ''Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation
The ''Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation'' (JASSS) is a quarterly Peer review, peer-reviewed academic journal created by Nigel Gilbert (University of Surrey). The current editor is Flaminio Squazzoni. The journal publishes arti ...
''
References
Further studies
*
*
*
*
*
*EPSTEIN, Joshua M. ; AXTELL, Robert. Growing Artificial Societies: social science from the bottom up. MIT Press. 1996, {{ISBN, 0-262-55025-3.
*EPSTEIN, Joshua M. Generative Social Science: studies in agent-based computational modeling. Princeton University Press. 2006
*GILBERT, N. and Troitzsch, K. G. (1999). Simulation for the Social Scientist, Open University Press.
External links
JASSS - The Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation
ESSA - The European Social Simulation Association
The Society for the Study of Artificial Intelligence and the Simulation of Behaviour
Dynamics Lab University College Dublin
Ireland
Multi-agent systems
Simulation