Call for papers for a session on
“Agent-based models: Linking complex social phenomena to social network dynamics”
at the XXXVIII Sunbelt Conference of the INSNA - International Network for Social Network Analysis,
June 26 - July 1, 2018 in Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Session organizers:
- Andreas Flache, Department of Sociology / ICS, University of Groningen (NL).
- Jennifer Badham, Queen’s University Belfast (UK).
- Filip Agneessens, Surrey Business School, University of Surrey (UK).
- Federico Bianchi, Department of Economics and Management, University of Brescia (I).
Computational agent-based modelling (ABM) has established itself as an approach to elaborate and analyze the complex interplay between micro-behavior and macro-structure that occurs in the emergence of social networks from individual relational decisions. ABM construes agents as autonomous, yet interdependent decision makers, driven by rules that span from simple heuristics to more or less sophisticated boundedly-rational choice or cognitive processes. Increasingly, the ABM literature addresses the dynamics of social networks as a crucial element in processes that bring about complex macro-level phenomena like opinion polarization, social and residential segregation, cooperation and conflict in organizations, gossip and reputation structures, social inequality, or status dynamics.
Questions of interest include:
1) How can ABM help identify mechanisms that contribute to network structures?
2) What are the implications of network structures for complex macro-level social phenomena?
3) How can we combine SNA and ABM data collection?
4) Case studies that integrate ABM and SNA methods to analyse a specific issue.
Call for abstracts is now open! Please submit your abstract (not exceeding 500 words) for an oral presentation.
Deadline: February 1, 2018 (23.59 hrs. CET time)
Submission link: https://sunbelt.sites.uu.nl/abstract-submission/
We look forward to your submissions!
Filip Agneessens
Jennifer Badham
Federico Bianchi
Andreas Flache