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The Dissenter

#1008 Paul Smaldino: Modeling Social Behavior

Oct 18, 2024
Join Dr. Paul Smaldino, Associate Professor at UC Merced and expert in social dynamics, as he dives into the fascinating world of modeling social behavior. He explores the challenges of constructing effective models in social sciences, comparing mathematical versus agent-based approaches. Discover insights on human psychology in social contexts, the spread of behaviors akin to contagion, and the dynamics of opinion and cooperation. Smaldino emphasizes the importance of collaboration between modelers and empirical researchers to deepen our understanding of complex social interactions.
01:36:58

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Quick takeaways

  • Modeling in science is crucial for understanding complex social behaviors that cannot be directly observed, revealing key relationships within systems.
  • The development of effective models relies heavily on a solid theoretical framework, which aids in generating coherent hypotheses and structured research.

Deep dives

Understanding Scientific Modeling

Modeling in science serves as an essential tool for studying phenomena that cannot be observed directly, allowing researchers to explore broader classes of systems. Models represent a simplified version of reality, which helps identify key relationships and properties within complex systems. For instance, models in biology often utilize organisms like fruit flies or rats as representatives to gain insights applicable to a wider range of species. This abstraction aids in investigating multifactorial issues in social sciences, where it is crucial to decide which factors to include and how they relate to the overarching theory or hypothesis.

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