Human Simulation: Perspectives, Insights, and Applications

Abstract

No agent-based model exists of language learning following immigration to a new country. Language learning has features that make it a good fit to ABMs, such as diffusion/adoption effects: people learn language via social interaction and are influenced by other social actors about how and when to invest in learning. Language learning involves positive and negative feedback loops, such that poor progress early in learning can spiral into negativity and avoidance, while early success can accelerate learning. Most importantly, the question of why language learning is difficult for adults is controversial. Should implementers program into models the equations that match the robust age effects observed in data, or should these patterns emerge from multiple factors and actors? To address this, the large literature on foreign language acquisition was reviewed as part of the background of making modeling decisions. Decisions were sufficiently challenging that it was decided to begin with a narrative description, using the Overview, Design Concepts and Details protocol (ODD). The ODD protocol provided an organizing framework in which many details were worked out. These included identifying outcome variables (frequency of use and fluency in the two languages), basic entities (representing individuals, families, neighborhood, global environment), defining rules for initiating and continuing conversation, and rules for agents to move to new locations. Considerable narrative space was used to discuss the rationale for simplifications, as well as decisions that were left for future extensions. Given the complexity of the domain, the narrative description was a necessary foundation to smooth the way for a working simulation.

Paying the Piper: History, Humanities, and the Scientific Study of Religion

“…Ambasciano charges us with lack of engagement with historians and the humanities. Yet our team is largely humanities scholars and has written entire volumes demonstrating precisely this kind of engagement (Diallo, et al, 2019). Much of our effort, including in consulting on grants, has also included historiography as a critical component, such as the GEHIR project (in which Ambasciano himself was tangentially involved).…”

Centering and collaborating with community knowledge systems: piloting a novel participatory modeling approach

“…The agent-based metaphor also allows for the application of participatory methods, as different groups can define rules and behavior of agents representing their worldview and perceptions. Examples are given in the recent compendium on Human Simulation [72]. Agent based models and the system science approach are mutually supportive methods and often combined in hybrid modeling approaches supporting cross-disciplinary views of common challenges.…”