IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/simgam/v40y2009i2p267-279.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Computerized Simulation in the Social Sciences

Author

Listed:
  • G. David Garson

    (North Carolina State University, USA, david_garson@ncsu.edu)

Abstract

After years at the periphery of the social sciences, simulation is now emerging as an important and widely used tool for understanding social phenomena. Through simulation, researchers can identify causal effects, specify critical parameter estimates, and clarify the state of the art with respect to what is understood about how processes evolve over time. Moreover, simulation methods are often the most time-effective and cost-effective means of doing so and sometimes are the only means. This essay outlines current developments in the four main branches of social science simulation: systems dynamics models, network models (including neural network models), spatial models, and agent-based models. The limitations of simulation modeling are also discussed, along with methods for evaluating the validity of social science computer simulations.

Suggested Citation

  • G. David Garson, 2009. "Computerized Simulation in the Social Sciences," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 40(2), pages 267-279, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:simgam:v:40:y:2009:i:2:p:267-279
    DOI: 10.1177/1046878108322225
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1046878108322225
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/1046878108322225?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:simgam:v:40:y:2009:i:2:p:267-279. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.