2025 Summer School on Methodology of Computational Social Science
Syllabus and Schedule
Dates: July 23-25, 2025
Venue: Room 301, Second Teaching Building第二教学楼, Huazhong Agricultural University
Overall Course Content:
The course content includes, but is not limited to:
1. Theory of Complex Social Systems and Principles of Simulation Modeling
2. Concepts and Principles of Agent-Based Modelling
3. Model building with NetLogo
4. Parameter Estimation, Sensitivity Analysis, and Empirical Validation of Simulation Models
5. Agent-Based Modeling of Complex Social Networks
6. Documentation of ABM (i.e., ODD protocol)
7. Relevant applications and examples of social simulation models used for decision support
Task:
Some pre-reading suggestions will be made before the summer school starts, which we will discuss at the start of the summer school. Preparing this way will give you a deeper understanding of the topics covered during the lectures and tutorials and allow you to get more out of the summer school.
During the summer school, students should build a simulation model and/or draft a paper, individually or in a team of no more than five members. This will allow students to demonstrate what they have learned by applying the theory and skills to a research domain of their interest, get hands-on experience with model development and implementation, and develop a foundation for future work. Where possible, the lecturers and wider teaching team will provide feedback.
On July 25, at the end of the summer school, students will present their design, ideas, and/or prototype model (completed prototypes or a design for a work in progress). Outstanding work will be recommended for presentation at the student session of the annual conference of the Asian Social Simulation Association.
Teaching Assistants:
Teng Li, Huaijuan Hao, Jinwu Lv
Agenda:
All times are in China Standard Time (GMT+8)
Date | Time | Topics | Lecturer |
July 23 | 08:00-08:30 | Opening and Welcome(30 minutes) | Hang Xiong VP of HZAU |
08:30-11:30 | Lecture 1: Computational Social Science and Its Methodology Quiz and discussion on pre-reading Complex system thinking & modelling Computational thinking with social science applications Key concepts and methodological tools in computational social science (focusing on social simulation) Typical applications and examples NetLogo model library exploration
Summer School Task Part 1: | Koen van Dam Zhanli Sun Hang Xiong |
11:30-14:30 | Lunch Break |
14:30-17:30
|
Lecture 2: Introduction to NetLogo and Syntax Basic programming and getting started with NetLogo Interacting with agents via the command center Code tab, buttons, sliders and procedures Monitor and plot Programming best-practices Building your first NetLogo model
Summer School Task Part 2: | Koen van Dam |
18:00-21:00 | Summer School Dinner |
July 24 | 08:30-11:30 | Lecture 3: NetLogo Skills & Agent Decision Making Further introduction to NetLogo syntax Debugging NetLogo programmes Modeling procedure An introduction to the ODD protocol for documenting agent-based models Agent behavirorial rules Behavior games on the playground
| Zhanli Sun |
11:30-14:30 | Lunch Break |
14:30-17:30 | Lecture 4: Lab Experiment with NetLogo
Summer School Task Part 3: | Hang Xiong |
| 19:00-21:00 | Self-study (practicing modelling with NetLogo) |
July 25 | 08:30-11:30 | Lecture 5:Decision-making Supported by Simulation
“SanYi” Decision-Making Simulator Individual decision-making supports Policy evaluation using simulation Getting started with GIS in ABM
|
Hang Xiong Koen van Dam Zhanli Sun |
11:30-14:30 | Lunch Break |
14:30-17:00 | Group Presentations (optional) and Feedback Or submission of reports/slides | All |
| 17:00-17:30 | Awards and Closing Ceremony | All |
