Netlogo - Social Contagion Theory Modelling

66 views
Skip to first unread message

Hayli Chiu

unread,
Aug 6, 2021, 9:22:36 PM8/6/21
to netlogo-users
Hi Everyone, I am interested in using Netlogo to model social contagion theory yet I have no experience in doing so. For example, i would be interested in mapping something similar to the research results from the following article - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233900069_Social_Contagion_of_Risk_Perceptions_in_Environmental_Management_Networks (basically how individuals that have more interaction tend to share more similar risk perceptions, and that the ties is found to be strongest between experts and layperson, when compared to networks between only experts or only laypersons). 

Would anyone be able to advise me on some existing sample models from Netlogo library or some books/articles/resources that I could read myself to learn more about how to do so? This is my first time learning about modelling and it would be great if you could provide me with a little help at the beginning.

stanle...@gmail.com

unread,
Aug 7, 2021, 3:06:07 PM8/7/21
to netlogo-users
Hi Hayli,

The NetLogo resources page is a good place to start, it has a number of good books: https://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/resources.shtml  One book it doesn't yet have, which was just published last week and is available free, is this one (I wrote the appendix): https://santafeinstitute.github.io/ABMA/ Complexity Explorer also has a course on ABM with NetLogo, with materials available for free: https://www.complexityexplorer.org/courses/121-introduction-to-agent-based-modeling  You can poke around in the Models Library in your NetLogo installation for models which use networks and/or have models of spread. You can find some COVID-19 NetLogo models on http://www.modelingcommons.org/ .

That should get you started. If you're also new to programming, expect that it will be a bit frustrating to learn to "think" about what you need for your research model in terms of programming, but you'll get it. Also expect to use the NetLogo dictionary and StackOverflow a LOT. 

Cheers,
Stan

Randolph, Elizabeth

unread,
Aug 9, 2021, 12:23:15 AM8/9/21
to Hayli Chiu, netlogo-users
I am also very interested in developing a similar model but “social contagion” related to uptake of an education systems change intervention - quite different context.  A very newby modeler but am looking at some other similar modes. 
From: netlog...@googlegroups.com <netlog...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Hayli Chiu <hayha...@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, August 6, 2021 7:22:36 PM
To: netlogo-users <netlog...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [netlogo-users] Netlogo - Social Contagion Theory Modelling
 
EXTERNAL:  This email originated from outside of the organization.  Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Hi Everyone, I am interested in using Netlogo to model social contagion theory yet I have no experience in doing so. For example, i would be interested in mapping something similar to the research results from the following article - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233900069_Social_Contagion_of_Risk_Perceptions_in_Environmental_Management_Networks (basically how individuals that have more interaction tend to share more similar risk perceptions, and that the ties is found to be strongest between experts and layperson, when compared to networks between only experts or only laypersons). 

Would anyone be able to advise me on some existing sample models from Netlogo library or some books/articles/resources that I could read myself to learn more about how to do so? This is my first time learning about modelling and it would be great if you could provide me with a little help at the beginning.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "netlogo-users" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to netlogo-user...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/netlogo-users/3defbfc2-9436-4338-b3ee-c1a546848844n%40googlegroups.com.

ERIC FERNANDES DE MELLO ARAUJO

unread,
Aug 9, 2021, 8:01:08 AM8/9/21
to Randolph, Elizabeth, Hayli Chiu, netlogo-users
Hi guys, I’ve been working with social contagion for a while and using ABMs to do so. I recommend you check my models by accessing my thesis (link below). In most of the works the code is available, though not all of them using netlogo. I’m also starting a new course next week on ABMs using net logo and trying to focus on social contagion models. 



Another researcher that also works with ABMs and Social contagion is Jenn Badham. She also has a free e-book on netlogo in the link below.


I’m more than happy to keep talking about it in private if you want to.

Best,

Eric

—
Eric Fernandes de Mello Araujo, PhD
Adjunct Professor - Federal University from Lavras - UFLA, Brazil 
Behavioural Informatics Laboratory - BILbo (http://bilbo.cc/)
Guest researcher @ Social AI Research Group - VU Amsterdam
--
Always remember you’re unique, just like everyone else.

Suhas Parandekar

unread,
Aug 9, 2021, 9:14:40 AM8/9/21
to Randolph, Elizabeth, ERIC FERNANDES DE MELLO ARAUJO, Hayli Chiu, netlogo-users
Prof. Eric Fernades, 

This is an awesome set of resources. Thanks so much for sharing. @Randolph, Elizabeth, do you want to collaborate on a project regarding modeling of an education system intervention, perhaps a group of netlogo-users on this issue can be assembled. Many decades ago, Karl Weick wrote a very influential systems piece on why education reform shows such high variability of impact (attached), perhaps now those ideas can be modeled in an ABM.

I am interested in setting up a project to study the introduction and spread of so called "formative assessment", where the teacher provides helpful constructive feedback to students through the academic year mostly in the form of comments rather than letter or number grades. I would like to model the spread of this practice in an ABM model with a set of parameters that can be re-calibrated periodically as a program is introduced in real life and data is captured about actual incidence in schools and classrooms. 

best regards,
Suhas Parandekar

Weick ASQ 1976 Educational Organizations as Loosely Coupled Systems.pdf

Randolph, Elizabeth

unread,
Aug 9, 2021, 4:53:03 PM8/9/21
to Suhas Parandekar, ERIC FERNANDES DE MELLO ARAUJO, Hayli Chiu, netlogo-users
  • Thank you on my side, Eric!  Really appreciate it.  I would be interested but don’t have a lot of time in the immediate term.  However, I look forward to taking a look at this work on social contagion.  My interests – content – is a bit different but really want to build on an appropriate model that involves the uptake of a learning intervention for teachers in rural primary schools in Africa.  The hypothesis is that there is insufficient interaction and social capital to ensure that a shift in practice attempted is actually adopted.  There are a couple of hypotheses that may deviate from typical contagion models”
  1. Agents  may attempt or adopt a new practice but neither are guaranteed after the initial training in the use of these practices
    1. Attempting a new practice is very expensive in terms of energy exerted to try these things out in a classroom and must be effectively reduced or a teacher will revert to his or her old ways
    2. Adoption is a more stable state of the new practice and requires less energy to sustain
    3. The practice is not all or none; some elements may be easy, others not so easy.
  2. It’s not just social contact that is necessary but impact on practice depends on
    1. Frequency of contact
    2. Time spent together
    3. (have to say it) Quality or value of contact
    4. The influence of the person/persons in contact with.

 

  • Really think the notion of energy expenditure and whether or not social networks and social capital come into play in reducing energy expenditure in trying new things out.
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages