Simulation Modeling and Theoretical Analysis in Sociology

1995 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 457-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. Hanneman
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Modeling ◽  
Simulation Modeling ◽  
Simulation Analysis ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Simulation Experiments ◽  
Scientific Disciplines ◽  
Causal Laws ◽  
Over Time

The use of computer simulation experiments as a tool for working with theories is not as widespread in sociology as it is in most scientific disciplines. This brief article explains how modeling is a distinctive activity from either “theory” or “empirical analysis” but how it informs both and connects them. Simulation models are artificial objects created to translate theoretical generalizations into specific scenarios involving states (variables and/or actors) and rates (the dynamic causal laws hypothesized to generate change over time in the states). Simulation models are analyzed to understand the full range of implications of theoretical statements as they apply to producing historical realizations under particular circumstances. Simulation analysis operates by a method of experimentation, unlike mathematical modeling and statistical modeling. The strengths and limitations of these three approaches to studying models are discussed, and suggested to be complementary rather than competitive with each other. Last, this article briefly points out some of the unique features of the exemplars that compose the remainder of this special issue of Sociological Perspectives.

MODELING OF RANDOM EVENTS USING A SPREADSHEET

2019 ◽  
pp. 48-54
Author(s):  
A. L. Korolev
Keyword(s):  
Computer Simulation ◽  
Probability Distribution ◽  
Simulation Modeling ◽  
Personal Experience ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Building Simulation ◽  
State University ◽  
Simulation Experiments ◽  
Random Events ◽  
Frequency Probability

The article discusses the methods and features of modeling random events. On this basis, the possibility of building simulation models and simulation experiments in a spreadsheet environment is shown. In the presented tasks, the characteristics of random events are considered: probability, frequency, probability distribution. The publication reflects the author’s personal experience of teaching the courses “Computer simulation”, “Modeling of processes and systems” in South Ural State University of Humanities and Education, as well as experience as an informatics teacher.

Process simulation modeling of phytophagans' influence on the yield of seed fruit crops

2019 ◽  
pp. 138-143
Author(s):  
V. A. Shishkin ◽  
E. P. Rybalkin ◽  
E. B. Balykina
Keyword(s):  
Process Simulation ◽  
Simulation Modeling ◽  
Software Package ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Vegetation Period ◽  
Fruit Crops ◽  
Generational Change ◽  
Apple Trees ◽  
Nonlinear Characteristics

Simulation modeling of phytophagans’ influence on the yield of seed fruit crops, in particular apple trees, was carried out. By means of simulation models the importance of phytophagans’ influence at different stages of the vegetation period and the period of fruit ripening was revealed. The software package Matlab was used to build simulation models. As a result, simulation models with nonlinear characteristics were obtained, which maximally reflected the studied processes. The developed models imitate the process of phytophagans’ development. Generation change of pests and all stages of their development are simulated. Their respective numbers are recorded at each stage for all generations. The development process at each stage is modeled by separate subsystems of the simulation model. To simulate the development of one generation of pests, these subsystems are connected by external links. In addition, part of the relationships provides a simulation of generational change. There are a number of input parameters that allow to configure the simulation of the process of changing generations, taking into account the peculiarities of the development of various phytophagans.

scholarly journals Introduction to the special issue: multiple jobholding in Europe

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-147
Author(s):  
Wieteke Conen ◽  
Karin Schulze Buschoff
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Clear Trend ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Quality Of Work ◽  
Labour Market Flexibility ◽  
Employment Situation ◽  
Over Time

In a number of European countries there is a clear trend towards increased multiple jobholding. As things stand, however, little is known about the structure and the potential consequences of this increase, notably in terms of quality of work and social protection. This special issue focuses on contemporary forms of multiple jobholding in Europe. Have the structure, nature and dynamics of multiple jobholding changed over time? What are the roles of labour market flexibility, technological change and work fragmentation in the development of multiple jobholding? And do multiple jobholders benefit from similar and adequate employment terms, conditions and protections compared with single jobholders, or are they worse off as a consequence of their (fragmented) employment situation? What implications do these findings have for unions, policy-makers and the regulation of work? The collection of articles in this special issue adds to the literature on emerging forms of employment in the digital age and challenges for social protection, also in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. This introduction initiates a discussion of central debates on multiple jobholding and presents a synopsis of the articles in this issue.

scholarly journals Editorial for Special Issue “Historical Mineral Pigments”

Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 237
Author(s):  
Carolina Cardell ◽  
Jose Santiago Pozo-Antonio
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Characterization ◽  
Glass Enamel ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Physical Chemical ◽  
Scientific Disciplines ◽  
Natural And Synthetic

The physical–chemical characterization of natural and synthetic historical inorganic and mineral pigments, which may be found embedded in paintings (real or mock-ups), glass, enamel, ceramics, beads, tesserae, etc., as well as their alteration under different decay scenarios, is a demanding line of investigation. This field of research is now both well established and dynamic, as revealed by the numerous publications in high-quality journals of varied scientific disciplines. [...]

A Method to Define the Best Weld Sequence Using a Limited Number of Welding Simulation Analysis

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahyar Asadi ◽  
Ghazi Alsoruji
Keyword(s):  
Simulation Model ◽  
Surrogate Model ◽  
Simulation Analysis ◽  
Combinatorial Problem ◽  
Fem Analysis ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Computational Time ◽  
Optimal Sequence ◽  
Welded Structure ◽  
Welding Sequence

Weld sequence optimization, which is determining the best (and worst) welding sequence for welding work pieces, is a very common problem in welding design. The solution for such a combinatorial problem is limited by available resources. Although there are fast simulation models that support sequencing design, still it takes long because of many possible combinations, e.g. millions in a welded structure involving 10 passes. It is not feasible to choose the optimal sequence by evaluating all possible combinations, therefore this paper employs surrogate modeling that partially explores the design space and constructs an approximation model from some combinations of solutions of the expensive simulation model to mimic the behavior of the simulation model as closely as possible but at a much lower computational time and cost. This surrogate model, then, could be used to approximate the behavior of the other combinations and to find the best (and worst) sequence in terms of distortion. The technique is developed and tested on a simple panel structure with 4 weld passes, but essentially can be generalized to many weld passes. A comparison between the results of the surrogate model and the full transient FEM analysis all possible combinations shows the accuracy of the algorithm/model.

scholarly journals Gastronomy unravelled by physics: Gastrophysics

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mie Thorborg Pedersen ◽  
Per Lyngs Hansen ◽  
Mathias Porsmose Clausen
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Laws Of Nature ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Food Science ◽  
Scientific Disciplines ◽  
The Social ◽  
History Of ◽  
Shed Light

Useful attempts to shed light on the nature of gastronomy from a scientific point of view and to unravel the crucial connection between food, eating and well-being are currently underrepresented in the scientific literature. However, several scientific disciplines ranging from the natural to the social sciences offer valuable new perspectives on gastronomy. As one of the key disciplines in natural science, physics offers original and rigorous perspectives on all processes and structures constrained by the laws of nature. The emerging discipline called gastrophysics employs the full range of concepts, techniques and methods from physics to generate useful scientific input to the complex and holistic reflections on gastronomy. Relying on a review of the existing literature, this article illustrates how a science-based gastrophysics emerges, to a large extent from the convoluted history of food science as well as from various recent – and often overlapping – attempts to combine modern scientific methodology to questions from gastronomy. However, the present review also insists on a physics-inspired methodology to handle scale and complexity in food preparation and consumption across length scales from sub-molecular to entire foods. We exemplify how gastrophysics directly helps to develop gastronomy and how it adds to current approaches in traditional food science. We also suggest that gastrophysics may prove relevant in the context of the ongoing food transformation, which focuses strongly on sustainability, but where the importance of gastronomic aspects in this transformation is greatly needed.

Socially constructing safety

2009 ◽  
Vol 62 (9) ◽  
pp. 1259-1266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Turner ◽  
Garry C. Gray
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Behavior ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Life And Death ◽  
Organizational Conditions ◽  
Cultural Considerations ◽  
Socially Constructed ◽  
Scientific Disciplines ◽  
Social Scientific

Social scientific perspectives on occupational safety largely characterize it as a disembodied, tangible, and easily quantifiable phenomenon. Recent research efforts have focused on exploring organizational conditions that predict occupational safety outcomes, resulting in top-down, often de-contextualized prescriptions about how to control safety in the workplace (e.g. ‘management should promote a culture of safety’). There is growing interest in how social processes of organizing, wider socio-cultural considerations, and the situated production of safety can contribute to the appreciation of the ‘lived experience’ of life and death at work. This Special Issue focuses on the socially constructed nature of occupational safety and the insight it provides in understanding broader social and organizational processes. In this article, we first describe how various social scientific disciplines share an interest in occupational safety and organizational behavior, yet rarely speak to another. We provide an overview of the five articles that comprise the Special Issue, and briefly highlight some ways forward for studying safety in organizations.

Self-other agreement of leadership

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 245-259
Author(s):  
Rebecca Mosson ◽  
Henna Hasson ◽  
Ulrica von Thiele Schwarz ◽  
Anne Richter
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Behaviors ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Line Managers ◽  
Common Component ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Leadership Intervention ◽  
Over Time

Purpose A common component in leadership interventions is the provision of feedback on leadership behaviors. The assumption is that, when there is a discrepancy in this feedback between managers’ and others’ ratings of leadership, this will increase managers’ self-awareness and motivate them to close this gap. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how agreement between managers and their subordinates changes over time as a result of a leadership intervention. Design/methodology/approach Questionnaire data were collected from line managers (N=18) and their subordinates (N=640) at pre-intervention, post-intervention and at a six-month follow-up. The managers participated in a leadership intervention that aimed to increase their knowledge and skills related to the leadership behaviors described in the Full-Range Leadership Model. Inter-rater agreement and reliability were calculated to justify aggregating the subordinates’ ratings. The managers and their subordinates were grouped according to three agreement categories: in agreement, managers’ over-rating and managers’ under-rating based on the managers’ views of their leader behaviors in relation to their subordinates’. Findings Manager-subordinate agreement on the managers’ leadership increased between pre-intervention and post-intervention but then decreased at the six-month follow-up (17, 61 and 44 percent, respectively). Most managers (n=15) changed agreement categories over time, and only three managers remained in the same agreement category throughout. The subordinates’ mean leadership ratings changed more than the managers’ mean ratings. Originality/value This is the first study to explore how manager-subordinate agreement changes when managers participate in a leadership intervention in a health care context. It shows that an intervention that includes upward feedback, by which managers self-rating of their leadership is compared with their subordinates’ ratings, can be an effective way to increase agreement.

Leadership in an interorganizational collaboration: A qualitative study of a statewide interagency taskforce

2018 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 397-419 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael W Kramer ◽  
Eric Anthony Day ◽  
Christopher Nguyen ◽  
Carrisa S Hoelscher ◽  
Olivia D Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Behaviors ◽  
Leadership Behavior ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Strategic Plan ◽  
The United States ◽  
Leadership Theories ◽  
Full Range Leadership ◽  
Interorganizational Collaborations ◽  
Over Time

The increased reliance on interorganizational collaborations (ICs) has created new challenges for leaders. They must attempt to apply leadership theories and behaviors developed primarily for leading within one organization or group to leading collaborations of multiple organizations and stakeholders. To provide insight into this issue, this study examines leadership behavior in an IC developing a strategic plan to promote changes to address public health and safety concerns related to substance abuse. Combining observations and interviews, we followed a statewide interagency taskforce in a southwestern state of the United States from its inception through completion of its strategic plan within a 10-month deadline. Findings show different leadership behaviors were integrated and evolved over time to strike a balance between decision-making effectiveness and efficiency. In particular, the findings support recent research on examining leadership behavior holistically to develop a ‘fuller full-range’ leadership perspective (Antonakis and House, 2014), especially in terms of how collectivistic and instrumental leadership should complement transformational leadership, and by demonstrating that the combinations of leadership change over time and occur at multiple levels. These findings provide guidance for future practice and research on ICs promoting change.

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