Agent-based social simulation (or ABSS) consists of social simulations that are based on

agent-based model An agent-based model (ABM) is a computational model for simulating the actions and interactions of autonomous agents (both individual or collective entities such as organizations or groups) in order to understand the behavior of a system and ...

ing, 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 pro ...

, 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 (often rendered in the plural as the social sciences) is one of the branches of science, devoted to the study of societies and the relationships among members within those societies. The term was formerly used to refer to the ...

, multiagent simulation and

computer simulation Computer simulation is the running of a mathematical model on a computer, the model being designed to represent the behaviour of, or the outcome of, a real-world or physical system. The reliability of some mathematical models can be determin ...

. 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.

Multi-agent system

A multi-agent system is a system created from multiple autonomous elements interacting with each other. These are called agents. In a multi-agent system, each agent is represented by an individual algorithm. See

Agent-based model An agent-based model (ABM) is a computational model for simulating the actions and interactions of autonomous agents (both individual or collective entities such as organizations or groups) in order to understand the behavior of a system and ...

. Agents can be used to simulate many different active elements, including organisms, machines, persons, corporations and other organizations, nations, and so on. Agent-based models can be used to simulate a wide variety of social phenomena, including transportation, market failures, cooperation and escalation and spreading of conflicts. In agent-based models illustrate how models based on simple rules can results in complex dynamics and emergent behavior (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 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 the University of Maryland, Coll ...

, presented in his paper "Models of Segregation". This model defined 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. He was active in the theory of finite groups, knot theory, number theory, combinatorial game theory and coding theory. He also made contributions to many b ...

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 basic models should be based on simple rules, so that a system's resulting emergent behavior can 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 a social media and social networking service owned by the American technology conglomerate Meta Platforms, Meta. Created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with four other Harvard College students and roommates, Eduardo Saverin, Andre ...

online social network.

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, libre software, libreware sometimes known as freedom-respecting software is computer software distributed open-source license, under terms that allow users to run the software for any purpose as well as to study, change, distribut ...

) * Repast
Multi Agent Simulation Suite (MASS)Fables
is a component of MASS, generating Repast J models * Swarm (simulation)
Janus
Multiagent, Organizational and Holonic Platform. (

Open Source Software Open-source software (OSS) is Software, computer software that is released under a Open-source license, license in which the copyright holder grants users the rights to use, study, change, and Software distribution, distribute the software an ...

) * Ascape (an implementation of the agent based model Sugarscape) * IngeniasINGENIAS Development Kit
(IDK)
SeSAm
Multiagent simulator and graphical modelling environment. (

) * NetLogo (

)
GlobalSimulate
Multiparadigm simulation and modelling environment. (

)
GAMA
GAMA is an agent-based, spatially explicit, modeling and simulation platform. (

) * MASON Multi-Agent Simulator Of Neighborhoods. (

)
Vahana.jl
A framework (not only) for large-scale agent-based models (

)

References

Further studies

* * * * * *EPSTEIN, Joshua M.; AXTELL, Robert. Growing Artificial Societies: social science from the bottom up. MIT Press. 1996, . *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 SimulationESSA - The European Social Simulation AssociationThe Society for the Study of Artificial Intelligence and the Simulation of BehaviourDynamics Lab University College Dublin
Ireland {{Computer simulation Agent-based model