Using agent-based models as a simulation tool to generate synthetic data

This free online workshop explores the intersection of two computational social science ideas, synthetic data and agent-based models:

1. Synthetic data – which is generated data rather than observed data. This can be useful when balancing research needs with data availability or security.
2. Agent-based models (ABM) – which simulate interactions and can produce synthetic data for diverse or even counterfactual scenarios.

This workshop will cover:

• why create synthetic data using ABM
• when it would be appropriate to do so
• how to create the data using open source software NetLogo
• what the resulting data can be used for

We will be using NetLogo for the live software demonstration, which is an open-source programming language and integrated development environment for agent-based modelling.

Workshop details

The workshop is structured into four parts:

1. Introduction to synthetic data
   What is and is not synthetic data? What is it good for? What are some common ways to generate it?
2. Introduction to top-down versus bottom-up
   What do top-down and bottom-up mean? How do these relate to research problems and data generation methods?
3. Introduction to agent-based models
   What are agent-based models? How do they work? What data do they generate? This part includes demonstrations of free and user-friendly agent-based modelling software.
4. Q&A session
   Participants can engage directly with the content, ask questions related to the presentation or live coding demonstration, and get links to useful resources.

There will be a comfort break during the workshop.

Presenter: Jools Kasmire, UK Data Service

Resources

Participants will have access to all workshop materials (slide decks, web-only agent-based models, and links to free agent-based modelling software). Additionally, a recording of the workshop will be made available post-event.

Prerequisites

No formal prerequisites are required to attend. However, those who wish to actively participate in the software demonstration should have access to a computer with NetLogo installed or have a browser open to the NetLogo web environment.

Level: Suitable for all. Participants who want to find out more about agent-based modelling and/or synthetic data in advance of the workshop can watch our YouTube videos:

• Introduction to agent-based modelling for social scientists
• What is Synthetic Data?
• Introduction to Synthetic Data for Researchers

Experience/knowledge required: None, although participants who want to follow along with the live software demonstration may benefit from exploring NetLogo tutorials

Target audience: Anyone who wants to learn more about how to:

• generate synthetic data
• use agent-based models to generate data for social science research

Any questions regarding this workshop can be sent to  booking@ukdataservice.ac.uk.

This event will be livestreamed on our UK Data Service YouTube channel but the chat will be disabled. By registering and attending the Zoom event you will be able to ask questions and interact.

Recordings of UK Data Service events are made available on our YouTube channel and, together with the slides, on our past events pages soon after the event has taken place.