Review of "Computer Models in the Social Sciences, by Robert B. Coats and Andrew Parkin", Winthrop, 1977

Abstract

I fear that many readers will skip this review after a brief glance at the book's title. One can hardly blame them; much of the literature on modelling and simulation is highly theoretical , and beset with an incredible amount of mathematics and jargon, making it unsuitable for use by the majority of social scientists. Happily, this book is different. The authors neatly dispel the myth that rigorous mathematical knowledge is a prerequisite to understanding and constructing computer models. From the Preface: "To understand this book you need only simple algebra, a little statistics and an alert mind. Quite a large part of the book can be understood without the first two of these." A practical, rather than a theoretical, approach is taken in this easy-to-read, entertaining , and thought-provoking introduction to computer modelling. Another quote from the Preface sets the tone for what follows: "Using a computer becomes worthwhile only when analyzing a system of some complexity which cannot easily be analyzed in more conventional ways. Practical techniques of analyzing complex systems is the unifying theme of the various parts of this book." The first part of the book discusses the principles used in designing, constructing, and experimenting with computer models. The second half consists of in-depth studies of diverse models, including a queuing model, an associative model of memory, a model of bed usage at a hospital, and an economic model. In each case the reader follows through the thought processes that go into the design and construction of the model. The excellent discussion questions are suitable for use either by the individual reader, or in a classroom situation. Unfortunately, this excellent reference source is buried in the middle of the book, where it can easily escape the attention of someone merely skimming through the book. Another nice feature of the book is that it confronts the special human problems encountered when trying to build a model in the social sciences. The authors are aware that quanti-fication often proves impossible, and that the human element affects systems in unpredictable ways. They never lose sight of the fact that the goal is the creation of practical, workable models that will benefit people, rather than an abstract theory of modelling which is of little practical use. In short, if you're after a solid foundation in the Why and How of computer models, which will give you the knowledge to construct …