Computational Sociology is a recently developed branch of sociology that uses computation to analyze social phenomena. The basic premise of computational sociology is to take advantage of computer simulation in the construction of social theories. It involves the understanding of social agents , the interaction among these agents, and the effect of these interactions on the social aggregate. Although the subject matter and methodologies in social science differ from those in natural science or computer science, several of the approaches used in contemporary social simulation originated from fields such as physics and artificial intelligence.

In relevant literature, computational sociology is often related to the study of social complexity. Social complexity concepts such as complex systems, non-linear interconnection among macro and micro process, and emergence, have entered the vocabulary of computational sociology. A practical and well-known example is the construction of a computational model in the form of an "artificial society," by which researchers can analyze the structure of a social system.

See also

• Artificial Society
• Important publications in computational sociology

External links

• On-line book "Simulation for the Social Scientist" by Nigel Gilbert and Klaus G. Troitzsch, 1999, second edition 2005
• Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation
• Computational Sociology Tutorial in Bandung Fe Institute compiled by Hokky Situngkir (available in Indonesian/Bahasa Melayu)
• From Factors to Actors: Computational Sociology and Agent-based Modeling - Review by Michael Macy and Robert Willer
• Mind Colonies & Ecosystems Thinking for Mind Ecosystems