Research Note:The Methodological Foundation for Applying the Agent-Based Modeling to Political Science Research
Author: Frank C.S. Liu
Abstract / Chinese PDF Download
Agent-based modeling (ABM) has emerged as a promising approach tostudying complex matters over the past twenty years. Scholars in the fields ofphysics, biology, economics, and business administration have both studied ABMand applied it to their research. For political scientists in Taiwan, however,although ABM may appear to be a promising new approach, it is easily seen as acomputer-centered, video-game like method that does not help solve politicalinquiries. Tracing the history of this method and presenting its potential linkage tothe development of scientific realism, this paper introduces this method in asystematical way and, more importantly, shows that proper use of ABM to explore“how” and “what if” questions will benefit positivists concerned about uncoveringthe causal mechanism of a phenomenon. Moreover, this method may also helpinterpretivists who are involved in developing theories from analysis of context andhistory. Because of the potential linkage between scientific realism and the ideasrooted in Santa Fe school, scholars using different approaches in political sciencewill find that ABM can serve as a platform for cross-disciplinary cooperation, aswell as for disciplinary sub-fields.