Models of Social Change and Social Stability

This course provides a critical, in-depth overview of how models in mathematics and models of simulation can be used to model and analyse social change and social stability.

Social change and social stability have constituted an essential field of research within sociology ever since the discipline was established as an academic field. This course introduces important formalised models and methods used to describe and analyse social change and social stability.

Its main focus is on demonstrating how simple formalised models can help explain significantly more complex social dynamics than would have been possible to describe using traditional or conventional theories expressed in everyday language.


Teaching Format

The teaching is provided in the form of 7–8 combined seminars/lectures, and compulsory laboratory exercises.

Assessment

The course assessment is in the form of a take-home exam and three laboratory exercises.

Examiner

The schedule will be available no later than one month before the start of the course. We do not recommend print-outs as changes can occur. At the start of the course, your department will advise where you can find your schedule during the course.


Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course.


Course reports are displayed for the three most recent course instances.