Leonardo Gabriel Rodriguez Zoya

La modelización y simulación computacional como metodología de investigación social

El presente trabajo se propone brindar una introduccion critica y sistematica a la metodologia de modelado y simulacion computacional en ciencias sociales. El uso de metodos computacionales para simular procesos sociales se ha expandido con vigor en los ultimos veinte anos en las distintas disciplinas de las ciencias sociales; sin embargo, continua siendo una metodologia poco conocida y empleada por los investigadores sociales en America Latina. El objetivo de este trabajo es contribuir a la reflexion epistemologica, teorica y metodologica de la simulacion computacional en ciencias sociales, atendiendo a la dimension politica que atraviesa toda praxis cientifica.

Modelos basados en agentes: aportes epistemológicos y teóricos para la investigación social

Agent-based models (ABM) constitute a new generation of computer based methods that allow the modeling of the structure of a complex system and simulation of its dynamic evolution over time. The use of ABM constitutes a methodological tendency expanding in contemporary social sciences; however, these models remain quite unknown and not frequently taught in the field of sociology. They therefore represent a minor methodological alternative among social researchers. The purpose of this work is to introduce social scientists to the main ideas of the agent-based models as they are articulated with certain theoretical and methodological problems of the social sciences. The first section puts into question the relationship between agent-based models and complex systems in a critical epistemological perspective. Subsequently, the contributions of ABM to social research are analyzed, and in the third section, their application in the framework of a specific discipline, political science, is assessed. Finally, a practical example of a simulation based on agents from the classic work of Thomas Schelling about racial segregation is developed.

Sur le lien entre pensée et système complexes

La these defendue est celle de la pertinence de l’articulation entre la pensee complexe et l’approche des systemes complexes. Alors que la premiere pourrait trouver dans la seconde la dimension methodologique semblant lui manquer, la seconde pourrait emprunter a la premiere un riche cadre epistemologique qui apparait lui faire defaut. Deux projets en cours temoignent de tentatives pour concretiser cette articulation.