Simulate this! An Introduction to Agent-Based Models and their Power to Improve your Research Practice
The method of agent-based modeling is rarely used in social psychology, but has the potential to complement and improve traditional research practices. An agent-based model (ABM) consists of a number of virtual individuals – the “agents” – interacting in an artificial, experimenter-controlled enviro...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Ubiquity Press
2017-07-01
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| Series: | International Review of Social Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.rips-irsp.com/articles/115 |
| _version_ | 1818504127981813760 |
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| author | Julia Eberlen Geeske Scholz Matteo Gagliolo |
| author_facet | Julia Eberlen Geeske Scholz Matteo Gagliolo |
| author_sort | Julia Eberlen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The method of agent-based modeling is rarely used in social psychology, but has the potential to complement and improve traditional research practices. An agent-based model (ABM) consists of a number of virtual individuals – the “agents” – interacting in an artificial, experimenter-controlled environment. In this article, we discuss several characteristics of ABMs that could prove particularly useful with respect to recent recommendations aimed at countering issues related to the current “replication crisis”. We address the potential synergies between planning and implementing an ABM on the one hand, and the endeavor of pre-registration on the other. We introduce ABMs as tools for both the generation and the improvement of theory, testing of hypotheses, and for extending traditional experimental approaches by facilitating the investigation of social processes from the intra-individual all the way up to the societal level. We describe examples of ABMs in social psychology, including a detailed description of the CollAct model of social learning. Finally, limitations and drawbacks of agent-based modeling are discussed. In annex 1 and 2, we provide literature and tool recommendations for getting started with an ABM. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T21:32:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3c2ee8798026435a875310b62cff0c5f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2397-8570 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T21:32:59Z |
| publishDate | 2017-07-01 |
| publisher | Ubiquity Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Review of Social Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-3c2ee8798026435a875310b62cff0c5f2022-12-22T01:32:43ZengUbiquity PressInternational Review of Social Psychology2397-85702017-07-0130114916010.5334/irsp.11538Simulate this! An Introduction to Agent-Based Models and their Power to Improve your Research PracticeJulia Eberlen0Geeske Scholz1Matteo Gagliolo2Center for Social and Cultural Psychology, Université libre de BruxellesInstitute of Environmental Systems Research, University of OsnabrückGroup for Research on Ethnic Relations, Migration and Equality, Université libre de BruxellesThe method of agent-based modeling is rarely used in social psychology, but has the potential to complement and improve traditional research practices. An agent-based model (ABM) consists of a number of virtual individuals – the “agents” – interacting in an artificial, experimenter-controlled environment. In this article, we discuss several characteristics of ABMs that could prove particularly useful with respect to recent recommendations aimed at countering issues related to the current “replication crisis”. We address the potential synergies between planning and implementing an ABM on the one hand, and the endeavor of pre-registration on the other. We introduce ABMs as tools for both the generation and the improvement of theory, testing of hypotheses, and for extending traditional experimental approaches by facilitating the investigation of social processes from the intra-individual all the way up to the societal level. We describe examples of ABMs in social psychology, including a detailed description of the CollAct model of social learning. Finally, limitations and drawbacks of agent-based modeling are discussed. In annex 1 and 2, we provide literature and tool recommendations for getting started with an ABM.https://www.rips-irsp.com/articles/115Social PsychologyAgent-Based ModelsComputational Social SciencesReplication CrisisMethodology |
| spellingShingle | Julia Eberlen Geeske Scholz Matteo Gagliolo Simulate this! An Introduction to Agent-Based Models and their Power to Improve your Research Practice International Review of Social Psychology Social Psychology Agent-Based Models Computational Social Sciences Replication Crisis Methodology |
| title | Simulate this! An Introduction to Agent-Based Models and their Power to Improve your Research Practice |
| title_full | Simulate this! An Introduction to Agent-Based Models and their Power to Improve your Research Practice |
| title_fullStr | Simulate this! An Introduction to Agent-Based Models and their Power to Improve your Research Practice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Simulate this! An Introduction to Agent-Based Models and their Power to Improve your Research Practice |
| title_short | Simulate this! An Introduction to Agent-Based Models and their Power to Improve your Research Practice |
| title_sort | simulate this an introduction to agent based models and their power to improve your research practice |
| topic | Social Psychology Agent-Based Models Computational Social Sciences Replication Crisis Methodology |
| url | https://www.rips-irsp.com/articles/115 |
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