Agent‐based models in sociology

Abstract

This article looks at 20 years of applications of agent-based models (ABMs) in sociology and, in particular, their explanatory achievements and methodological insights. These applications have helped sociologists to examine agent interaction in social outcomes and have helped shift analyses away from structural and aggregate factors, to the role of agency. They have improved the realism of the micro-behavioral foundations of sociological models, by complementing analytic modeling and game theory-inspired analyses. Secondly, they have helped us to dissect the role of social structures in constraining individual behavior more precisely than in variable-based sociology. Finally, simulation outcomes have given us a more dynamic view of the interplay between individual behavior and social structures, thus promoting a more evolutionary and process-based approach to social facts. Attention here has been paid to social norms, social influence, and culture dynamics, across different disciplines such as behavioral sciences, complexity science, sociology, and economics. We argue that these applications can help sociology to achieve more rigorous research standards, by promoting a modeling environment and providing tighter cross-disciplinary integration. Recently, certain methodological improvements toward model standardization, replication, and validation have been achieved. As a result, the impact of these models in sociology is expected to grow even more in the future

Analytical sociology and computational social science

“…Empirically calibrated agent-based models are one important tool that exemplify this development [14][15][16]. In order to avoid basing the analysis on implausible or arbitrary assumptions that could threaten the explanatory power of the analysis, detailed empirical analyses are used to inform the specification of the agent-based simulation model and to decide upon realistic parameter values.…”

Towards a Complexity-Friendly Policy: Breaking the Vicious Circle of Equilibrium Thinking in Economics and Public Policy

“…However, behavioural research would indicate that, especially when social outcomes depend on decentralised cooperation by individuals or organisations, the 'bounds' of decision makers' rationality could even allow individuals to overcome their own self-interest [9]. Indeed, public good provision in competitive settings depends on the existence of social norms which make individuals pursue social rather than egoistic aims [27].…”

A simulation of contract farming using agent based modeling

“…In this simulation, farmers can change their agricultural practices based on their observation of their neighbors' behavior. As mentioned by Bianchi and Squazzoni (2015), our decision making is usually influenced by observing the behavior of others. Farmers will improve their agricultural practices if they observe their neighbors implementing better agricultural practices and getting better profits.…”

“…Social punishment is another form of indirect reciprocity (Bianchi & Squazzoni, 2015). In this study, social punishment is represented by the decision of farmers to exclude a farmer who cannot fulfill contract requirements because the farmer will not follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).…”