ABSTRACT

Agent-based computational models create virtual laboratories in which to formalize and simulate dynamic, multi-level theories of communication. They allow the systematic development of thought experiments, and they improve our understanding of the generative mechanisms that underlie patterns observed in empirical data. Simulation models help explore hypothetical and unprecedented scenarios, serving as powerful hypothesis generators for future theoretical and empirical research. This Special Issue showcases a collection of studies that demonstrate the analytical potential and methodological contribution of agent-based modeling (ABM) for media and communication research. In this introduction, we highlight five major benefits of this modeling approach to communication scholarship: (1) formalization, (2) understanding, (3) explanation, (4) prediction, and (5) exploration. We then present the four studies of this special issue, which contribute methodologically and theoretically to diverse key areas of communication: the emergence of meanings; political deliberation; information diffusion; and media use and social influence. We conclude with outlining future perspectives of ABM in communication research.

摘要

基于代理的计算模型创建虚拟实验室，在其中形式化和模拟动态的、多层次的通信理论。它们允许思想实验的系统发展，并提高我们对经验数据中观察到的模式背后的生成机制的理解。模拟模型有助于探索假设和前所未有的场景，作为未来理论和实证研究的强大假设生成器。本期特刊展示了一系列研究，展示了基于代理的建模 (ABM) 对媒体和传播研究的分析潜力和方法论贡献。在本介绍中，我们强调了这种建模方法对传播学的五个主要好处：（1）形式化，（2）理解，（3）解释，（4）预测，(5)探索。然后，我们介绍了关于这个特刊的四项研究，它们在方法论和理论上对传播的不同关键领域做出了贡献：意义的出现；政治审议；信息扩散；以及媒体使用和社会影响。最后，我们概述了 ABM 在传播研究中的未来前景。