Course Description

This course aims to introduce the basic concepts of Agent-Based Modelling (ABM) as a methodology for the analysis of complex social and economic systems. The course focuses on the analysis of social and economic situations where a pattern emerges due to the interaction among heterogeneous agents. Social sciences can be perceived as the study of interactions among individuals and the outcomes of these interactions. Agent-Based Modelling (ABM) can be a useful tool for analyzing social and economic interactions, which includes market processes, the evolution of social norms, customs, conventions and institutions, the formation of organizations like firms, and the evolution of societies and economies. This is an introductory level course where you will learn how to design, program, and document agent-based computational models.

Course Instructor:

Sunil Paul, email: sunil [at] iitgoa [dot] ac [dot] in

Office: F2, IT Building

Phone: 832 249 0114

Office hours: by appointment

Teaching Assistants

Stanley James, email: stanley19274101 [at] iitgoa [dot] ac [dot] in

Suraj Kumar Das, email: suraj19274201 [at] iitgoa [dot] ac [dot] in

Meetings

  • Lectures (3 lectures per week, 50 minutes each)

    • Monday at 12.00

    • Thursday at 08.00

    • Friday at 12.00

Course materials

Moodle

The course will be managed using Moodle page. Handouts, assignments and other details can be accessed in Moodle.

Slack

We will be using slack as our online discussion and interaction platform.

Required text

  • Railsback, S. F., & Grimm, V. 2011. Agent-based and individual-based modeling: A practical introduction. Princeton University Press. (see here to access the companion website to the book)

Other useful references

  • Miller, John H. and Scott E. Page. 2007. Complex Adaptive Systems: An Introduction to Computational Models of Social Life. Princeton: University Press. ISBN 9780691127026.

  • Wilensky, U., & Rand, W. (2015). An Introduction to Agent-Based Modeling: Modeling Natural, Social, and Engineered Complex Systems with NetLogo. MIT Press.

Course Evaluation

Assessment plan

The course follows continuous evaluation plan, which includes:

  • Classroom participation - 80% attendance is mandatory for class interactions. Poor attendance may lead to FX grade

  • Assignments/ quizzes and home works (I will also assign ungraded exercises from time to time)

  • Individual and team-based projects

  • In-class presentations

There will not be any written tests or examinations at the end or mid of the semester in this course.

Grading Policy

  • Assignments/Home works/quizzes - 20%

  • Team project - 30%

  • Individual research project (report and presentations) - 50%

Class participation -5 points (over the above assessment components)

Expectations from Students

  • Workload: You may have to spend an average of 6 to 7 hours per week in addition to classroom interactions.

  • Academic honesty: I expect that every student follows the highest standards of integrity and academic honesty. Discussions or any other types of peer learning are highly encouraged, but copying or any other form of plagiarism if detected will be liable to disciplinary actions as per IIT Goa's policy for academic malpractices. Such submissions will be graded zero.

Course Policies

Eligibility and requirements

  • This is an open elective offered to 5th-semester undergraduate students.

  • Course prerequisites: None

  • Class size is limited to 35.

Late submissions:

There will be a penalty for late submissions. Please follow the deadlines to get full credits.

Course plan

Please sign in to Moodle to access course materials. Detailed course plan is also available there. The broad outline of the course is given below:

  • Complex adaptive systems in social science.

  • Introduction to Agent-Based Modelling (ABM).

  • Introduction to NetLogo environment.

  • The ‘ODD’ (Overview, Design concepts and Details) protocol of ABM.

  • Design and implementation of ABMs to answer research questions in social sciences.

  • Analysis and documentation of ABM.