Agent-Based Models and Social Network Analysis

Agent-based models (ABMs) are computational models consisting of heterogeneous agents programmed with decision-making heuristics and learning abilities. Interactions between these agents and their simulated environment result in adaptation and emergent behavior. The integration of ABMs and social network analysis provides the opportunity to experiment with the effects of social influence in individual decision-making and emergent social processes, but few ABMs include social networks.

A review of the literature does reveal a growing body of social network experimentation in ABMs:

Table: Social Networks in Agent Based Models