Syllabus
UCI Human Complex Systems SocSci 180F / Anthropology 179A
Networks and Complexity
Lecture/Lab: Tuesday/Thursday SST155
Instructor: Douglas Whitedrwhite@uci.edu
Office: SSPA 4169. Description: Social
networks and dynamics studied through
complexity theory, simulating interactions in
social networks & realistic network modeling
http://tinyurl.com/yyajyx
as an
approach to understanding society,
organizations, historical change, and
structural/dynamical approaches to social
science problems.
x
Purchase two of the texts online. Data come with the Pajek text.
Evolution of the Social Contract
Macromotives and Macrobehavior
Six Degrees: The Science of a Connected Age
Exploratory Social Network Analysis with Pajek
Network Analysis and Ethnographic Problems
Hidden Order: How Adaptation Builds Complexity
African Fractals: Modern Computing and Indigenous Design
Linked: The New Science of Networks
Perfect Order: Recognizing Complexity in Bali
War and Peace and War: The Life Cycles of Imperial Nations
How Nature Works
Also available in pdf:
Social Network Basics for sociologists and everybody else
Jeroen Bruggeman
Grading:
3 Quizzes: 20%
Homework Exercises and book reports: 25%
In-class activities and participation: 15%
Final Project Paper: 40%
Topics: Each week we explore
different ways to model social systems.
The details of this outline are subject to
change.
1. modeling and simulation -
Evolutionary Game Theory
2. analyzing networks and
dynamics
3. modeling dynamical social
systems
4. simulating networks
5. modeling culture
6. scaling and dynamics
7. complex social systems
8. conflict and dynamical
instabilities
9. the multi-agent systems
approach
10. using a multiple models
research method
Predators and prey is a sophisticated interactive
multi-agent system using evolutionary game theory.
Computer simulations like these help us explore
and test models against the complexity of real world
social and cultural life.
All links are live in pdf
1. Evolutionary Game Theory: Evolving Artificial Moral Ecologies
Java: http://www.ethics.ubc.ca/eame/eameweb/frcont2.htm
From Simulation Model to Critique of Structuration Structure and Dynamics 1:146-172
http://repositories.cdlib.org/imbs/socdyn/sdeas/iss2/art1
Book reports: Evolution of the Social Contract;
2. Analyzing networks and dynamics with Pajek
Stories, Scripts, Roles, and Networks Structure and Dynamics 1: 267-290
http://repositories.cdlib.org/imbs/socdyn/sdeas/iss2/art5
About the Image: Diffusion Dynamics in an Historical Network Structure and Dynamics
1:133-141 http://repositories.cdlib.org/imbs/socdyn/sdeas/iss1/art10
The use of formal methods to map, analyze and interpret hawala and terrorist-related
alternative remittance systems Structure and Dynamics 1:291-307
http://repositories.cdlib.org/imbs/socdyn/sdeas/iss12/art6
Book report: Exploratory Social Network Analysis with Pajek;
Six Degrees
3. Modeling dynamical social systems
Dynamical Feedbacks between Population Growth and Sociopolitical Instability in Agrarian
States Structure and Dynamics 1:49-69 http://repositories.cdlib.org/imbs/socdyn/sdeas/iss1/art3
Book report: War and Peace and War: The Life Cycles of Imperial Nations
4. Simulating networks
Fighting a Hydra: A Note on the Network Embeddedness of the War on Terror Structure
and Dynamics 1:353-359 http://repositories.cdlib.org/imbs/socdyn/sdeas/iss12/art9
Book report: Network Analysis and Ethnographic Problems
5. Modeling culture
More Kin: An Effect of the Tradition of Marriage Structure and Dynamics 1:250-266
http://repositories.cdlib.org/imbs/socdyn/sdeas/iss2/art4
Atlas of Chiefdoms and Early States Structure and Dynamics 1:738-756
http://repositories.cdlib.org/imbs/socdyn/sdeas/iss14/art1
Book report: Perfect Order: Recognizing Complexity in Bali
African Fractals: Modern Computing and Indigenous Design
6. Scaling and dynamics
City-system resilience: China and Europe historically and today Structure and Dynamics 2:
forthcoming
A Primer on Statistical Analysis of Dynamical Systems in Historical Social Sciences (with a
Particular Emphasis on Secular Cycles) Structure and Dynamics 1:070-81
http://repositories.cdlib.org/imbs/socdyn/sdeas/iss1/art4
Book report: Hidden Order: How Adaptation Builds Complexity
7. Modeling organizations
Network Dynamics and Field Evolution: The Growth of Interorganizational
Collaboration in the Life Sciences. American Journal of Sociology 110(4):1132-1205
2003 A note on structural holes theory and niche overlap (co-authors Gianluca Carnabuci
and Ivar Vermeulen), Social Networks 25: 97-101. http://users.fmg.uva.nl/jbruggeman/SN03.pdf
Book report: Linked: The New Science of Networks
8. Modeling culture and agency
Network Analysis, Culture, and the Problem of Agency. Mustafa Emirbayer and Jeff
Goodwin. American Journal of Sociology 99: 1411-
http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/resolve?id=doi:10.1086/230450&erFrom=-3782062303802642306Guest
Book report: Macromotives and Macrobehavior
9. General Principles
Book report: How Nature Works
10. Summing up
Book Report: Each student will be responsible for a book report on one chapter from each
of two books, in coordination with other students.
Quizzes: Quizzes will be given every 3 weeks on the most recent material. Quiz dates will
be announced in lectures ahead of time. They are tentatively scheduled for Wednesdays in
weeks 4, 6, 8 and 10. Typical quiz questions ask you to write a definition, evaluate a case
study, or apply a model. Quizzes are 50 percent multiple choice.
Homework Exercises: We will use Excel to implement the several homeworks in weeks 2
and 6. Always have your name, student id, and the homework number included on what you
turn in! Late homework will only be accepted under special circumstances.
Software: I will provide you with software and to explore various topics (Pajek, Java
simulation, R, iGraph). http://eclectic. ss.uci.edu/~drwhite/Anthro179a/syllabus03.html#Pajek
Virtual World Participation: You can download software that is a portal to a virtual
community called "There" at www.there.com. What you do in that world is up to you. Your
"avatar" will be able to communicate with others and use tools (the basics of culture!)
Final Research Paper: The suggested topic is to apply and compare two different models to
a phenomenon or system of you choice. Past research papers explored dynamics of Gini
nation-level inequality indices, kindergarten networks, ants at work, forest food webs, cross-
national trade; and so on. It's your choice!
Note: The purpose of this course is for you to learn and practice analytical thinking skills
applied to social science problems and cultural questions, and to learn network and
complexity research methods. The mathematics in the course mostly involve drawing graphs,
calculating percentages and scaling distributions.
2003 course: http://eclectic. ss.uci.edu/~drwhite/Anthro179a/syllabus03.html
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