Network Dynamics of Social Behavior
proposé par
Network Dynamics of Social Behavior
University of Pennsylvania
À propos de ce cours
4.6
74 notes
How do revolutions emerge without anyone expecting them? How did social norms about same sex marriage change more rapidly than anyone anticipated? Why do some social innovations take off with relative ease, while others struggle for years without spreading? More generally, what are the forces that control the process of social evolution –from the fashions that we wear, to our beliefs about religious tolerance, to our ideas about the process of scientific discovery and the best ways to manage complex research organizations?
The social world is complex and full of surprises. Our experiences and intuitions about the social world as individuals are often quite different from the behaviors that we observe emerging in large societies. Even minor changes to the structure of a social network - changes that are unobservable to individuals within those networks - can lead to radical shifts in the spread of new ideas and behaviors through a population. These “invisible” mathematical properties of social networks have powerful implications for the ways that teams solve problems, the social norms that are likely to emerge, and even the very future of our society.
This course condenses the last decade of cutting-edge research on these topics into six modules. Each module provides an in-depth look at a particular research puzzle -with a focus on agent-based models and network theories of social change -and provides an interactive computational model for you try out and to use for making your own explorations!
Learning objectives - after this course, students will be able to...
- explain how computer models are used to study challenging social problems
- describe how networks are used to represent the structure of social relationships
- show how individual actions can lead to unintended collective behaviors
- provide concrete examples of how social networks can influence social change
- discuss how diffusion processes can explain the growth social movements, changes in cultural norms, and the success of team problem solving
Programme du cours : ce que vous apprendrez dans ce cours
Week
1Course Introduction and Schelling's Segregation Model
This week will introduce students to agent-based modeling and social network theory. We will present one of the earliest and most famous agent-based models, Thomas Schelling’s model of segregation, which shows how segregation can emerge in a population even when people individually prefer diversity. This week will demonstrate this model both conceptually and with NetLogo, and illustrate how agent-based models can be used to demonstrate sufficient conditions for the emergence of social phenomena.
7 vidéos (Total 20 min), 1 quiz
7 vidéos
1.1 The Substantive Problem: Micromotives and Macrobehavior1 min
1.2 What are Agent-Based Models?2 min
1.3 Formal Model of Segregation1 min
1.4 Exploring Schelling's Segregation Model1 min
1.5 How to Download and Use NetLogo2 min
1.6 Using NetLogo: Schelling's Segregation Model4 min
1 exercice pour s'entraîner
Week 116 min
Week
2Diffusion in Small Worlds
This week will introduce students to social network theory and the “small worlds” paradox. We will introduce contagion models of diffusion, and discuss how network structure can impact the speed with which information spreads through a population. This week includes both high level conceptual overviews of social network theory, explaining how networks are used to represent complex social relationships, as well as technical descriptions of two basic types of networks.
7 vidéos (Total 25 min), 1 quiz
7 vidéos
2.2 Introduction to Network Science5 min
2.3 Types of Networks: Lattice Graph5 min
2.4 Types of Networks: Random Graph4 min
2.5 Using NetLogo: Properties of the Small World Network2 min
2.6 Using NetLogo: Information Diffusion in Small World Networks3 min
2.7 Conclusions: Life in a Small World2 min
1 exercice pour s'entraîner
Week 218 min
Week
3Complex Contagions and the Weakness of Long Ties
This week will begin by discussing the limitations of simple disease-like models of social contagion, introducing the idea of “complex contagions” to model people’s frequent need for social reinforcement before spreading a piece of information or behavior. While simple contagions always spread faster as networks get smaller, this week will demonstrate the paradoxical nature of complex contagions, which can spread slower (or not at all!) in the smallest networks.
6 vidéos (Total 26 min), 1 quiz
6 vidéos
3.2 From Simple to Complex Contagions4 min
3.3 How to Model Complex Contagions4 min
3.4 Threshold Models in Networks9 min
3.5 Using NetLogo: Complex Contagions in Small World Networks2 min
3.6 Conclusion: The Spread of Behavior in a Complex World3 min
1 exercice pour s'entraîner
Week 324 min
Week
4Emperor's Dilemma and the Spread of Unpopular Norms
How can behaviors become popular even when most people dislike them? This week will introduce a model based on the classic allegory by Hans Christian Anderson, “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” We will first provide a conceptual overview of the model, discussing the role of private versus public beliefs and the enforcement of social norms. We will then present this model in NetLogo, showing which conditions favor the spread of unpopular behaviors.
6 vidéos (Total 17 min), 1 quiz
6 vidéos
4.2 Components of a Norm: Compliance and Enforcement1 min
4.3 Modeling Compliance and Enforcement2 min
4.4 Using NetLogo: Explaining the Spread of Unpopular Norms7 min
4.5 Falsification and Sufficiency in the Emperor's Dilemma1 min
4.6 Self-Reinforcing Norms: A Cautionary Conclusion1 min
1 exercice pour s'entraîner
Week 416 min
4.6
Meilleurs avis
par SC•Jan 21st 2018
A Crisp yet effective overview of some of the most critical works in the field of Networking. Anyone from the fields of Management, Sociology, Anthropology et al should try the MOOC.
par AE•Nov 21st 2017
Although the course was very short and the homework were so easy, I'm quite satisfied by the insight I got from Prof Centola
Enseignant
Damon Centola
Associate ProfessorAnnenberg School for Communication
À propos de University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania (commonly referred to as Penn) is a private university, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. A member of the Ivy League, Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, and considers itself to be the first university in the United States with both undergraduate and graduate studies.
Foire Aux Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
D'autres questions ? Visitez le Centre d'Aide pour les Etudiants.
Coursera propose un accès universel à la meilleure formation au monde,
en partenariat avec des universités et des organisations du plus haut niveau, pour proposer des cours en ligne.
© 2018 Coursera Inc. Tous droits réservés.
