Nonlinear Difference Equations : Theory with Applications to Social Science Models

H. Sedaghat

ISBN 10: 9048162157 / ISBN 13: 9789048162154

Published by Springer Netherlands, Springer Netherlands, 2010

About this Item

Druck auf Anfrage Neuware - Printed after ordering - It is generally acknowledged that deterministic formulations of dy namical phenomena in the social sciences need to be treated differently from similar formulations in the natural sciences. Social science phe nomena typically defy precise measurements or data collection that are comparable in accuracy and detail to those in the natural sciences. Con sequently, a deterministic model is rarely expected to yield a precise description of the actual phenomenon being modelled. Nevertheless, as may be inferred from a study of the models discussed in this book, the qualitative analysis of deterministic models has an important role to play in understanding the fundamental mechanisms behind social sci ence phenomena. The reach of such analysis extends far beyond tech nical clarifications of classical theories that were generally expressed in imprecise literary prose. The inherent lack of precise knowledge in the social sciences is a fun damental trait that must be distinguished from 'uncertainty. ' For in stance, in mathematically modelling the stock market, uncertainty is a prime and indispensable component of a model. Indeed, in the stock market, the rules are specifically designed to make prediction impossible or at least very difficult. On the other hand, understanding concepts such as the 'business cycle' involves economic and social mechanisms that are very different from the rules of the stock market. Here, far from seeking unpredictability, the intention of the modeller is a scientific one, i. e.

Seller Inventory # 9789048162154

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Nonlinear Difference Equations : Theory with Applications to Social Science Models
• Publisher: Springer Netherlands, Springer Netherlands
• Publication Date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9048162157
• ISBN 13: 9789048162154
• Binding: Taschenbuch
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 235W x 155H x 23D millimeters 235 millimeters width by 155 millimeters height by 23 millimeters depth
• Weight: 616 grams

About this title

Synopsis

It is generally acknowledged that deterministic formulations of dy­ namical phenomena in the social sciences need to be treated differently from similar formulations in the natural sciences. Social science phe­ nomena typically defy precise measurements or data collection that are comparable in accuracy and detail to those in the natural sciences. Con­ sequently, a deterministic model is rarely expected to yield a precise description of the actual phenomenon being modelled. Nevertheless, as may be inferred from a study of the models discussed in this book, the qualitative analysis of deterministic models has an important role to play in understanding the fundamental mechanisms behind social sci­ ence phenomena. The reach of such analysis extends far beyond tech­ nical clarifications of classical theories that were generally expressed in imprecise literary prose. The inherent lack of precise knowledge in the social sciences is a fun­ damental trait that must be distinguished from "uncertainty. " For in­ stance, in mathematically modelling the stock market, uncertainty is a prime and indispensable component of a model. Indeed, in the stock market, the rules are specifically designed to make prediction impossible or at least very difficult. On the other hand, understanding concepts such as the "business cycle" involves economic and social mechanisms that are very different from the rules of the stock market. Here, far from seeking unpredictability, the intention of the modeller is a scientific one, i. e.