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Paperback
Publisher: Sage Publications, Inc
ISBN13: 9781412949644
Condition: NEW
Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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Agent-based modeling (ABM) is a technique increasingly used in a broad range of social sciences. It involves building a computational model consisting of “agents,” each of which represents an actor in the social world, and an "environment" in which the agents act. Agents are able to interact with each other and are programmed to be pro-active, autonomous and able to perceive their virtual world. The techniques of ABM are derived from artificial intelligence and computer science, but are now being developed independently in research centers throughout the world.
In Agent-Based Models, Nigel Gilbert reviews a range of examples of agent-based modeling, describes how to design and build your own models, and considers practical issues such as verification, validation, planning a modeling project, and how to structure a scholarly article reporting the results of agent-based modeling. It includes a glossary, an annotated list of resources, advice on which programming environment to use when creating agent-based models, and a worked, step-by-step example of the development of an ABM.
This latest volume in the SAGE Quantitative Applications in the Social Sciences series will have wide appeal in the social sciences, including the disciplines of sociology, economics, social psychology, geography, economic history, science studies, and environmental studies. It is appropriate for graduate students, researchers and academics in these fields, for both those wanting to keep up with new developments in their fields and those who are considering using ABM for their research.
Key Features Aimed at readers who are new to ABM Offers a brief, but thorough, treatment of a cutting-edge technique Offers practical advice about how to design and create ABM Includes carefully chosen examples from different disciplines
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| Commentaries |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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This is excellent book for those who are trying to understand social phenomena as models. Models in Social Sciences help to visualize variables and their inter relations. The book shows how to create models using a computational program called netlogo which can be downloaded from the web. The program allows create variables and data related with them. In other words, a model can be crated and it can generate data that show how the model works. I will recommend Agent-based models for Social Science students and professionals concerned with social dynamic.
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| Misses a key element |
| Customer Rating: 3 out of 5 |
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This book is fine as far as it goes. But ABM can only be done with software and it fails to mention one of the key players in this area. The author points out that NetLogo is easiest to learn but too simple for large models. Then he points you to the programmers-only solutions of Repast, Swarm, and Mason -- all academic development environments that require you to program in Java. He bemoans the gap between these two extremes yet somehow he skips AnyLogic which is a true high-level application with drag-and-drop model building, sophisticated libraries, model wizards to help beginners, and many advanced features.
It's hard to believe someone would write a book on ABM without first doing at least a Google search on the available tools.
At any rate, the book is a solid theoretical treatment. If you are an expert Java programmer with the time to code models from scratch this will be an important book.
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| Very useful |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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This small booklet is very good for starters. The examples used are very relevant. I would recomment it for all beginners in agent-based modeling. It contains most of the important information and is very easy to read. It would be better if some necessary math are included.
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| A great addition to the SAGE line |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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"Agent-Based Models" is a great starting point for helping a computer scientist to collaborate with colleagues in the social or natural sciences where an agent-based model might be appropriate. Nigel Gilbert has written other books on the subject of agent-based modeling, but this small text is a great kick-start for understanding the kinds of questions you can ask (and data you can collect) from agent-based simulations of systems that interest you.
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| Great book when writing papers on ABM |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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This short book is very useful if you are writing a paper on the results of an agent-based model. It outlines how your paper should be set up and discusses what details to include. Although it presents an overview of what is ABM, it will not teach you how to create an agent-based model. Nonetheless the student or researcher should find this book useful.
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