Cooperative Agents

Applications in the Social Sciences

Agent-based modelling on a computer appears to have a special role to play in the development of social science. It offers a means of discovering general and applicable social theory, and grounding it in precise assumptions and derivations, whilst addressing those elements of individual cognition that are central to human society. However, there are important questions to be asked and difficulties to overcome in achieving this potential. What differentiates agent-based modelling from traditional computer modelling? Which model types should be used under which circumstances? If it is appropriate to use a complex model, how can it be validated? Is social simulation research to adopt a realist epistemology, or can it operate within a social constructionist framework? What are the sociological concepts of norms and norm processing that could either be used for planned implementation or for identifying equivalents of social norms among co-operative agents? Can sustainability be achieved more easily in a hierarchical agent society than in a society of isolated agents? What examples are there of hybrid forms of interaction between humans and artificial agents? These are some of the sociological questions that are addressed.

The design of the user interface for ITS is a concern influenced by the field of
human computer interaction (HCI) based in communication science. 1.2.
COMPUTER SUPPORTED COLLABORATIVE LEARNING In recent years the
widespread use of computer networks has facilitated the development of systems
in which group work and collaborative learning processes are possible.
Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) systems provide support for
interactions in learning ...