# Mechanistic Models in Computational Social Science

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/1507.00477 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/1507.00477/

## Key facts

- Cited by 2 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 2 Jul 2015.

## Built on by (most cited first, 2 of 2)

- [Minorities in networks and algorithms](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2206.07113/) (2022)
- [Artificially intelligent agents in the social and behavioral sciences: A history and outlook](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2510.05743/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Quantitative social science is not only about regression analysis or, in general, data inference. Computer simulations of social mechanisms have a 60-year long history. They have been used for many different purposes -- to test scenarios, test the consistency of descriptive theories (proof-of-concept models), explore emergent phenomena, forecast, etc. In this essay, we sketch these historical developments, the role of mechanistic models in the social sciences, and the influences from the natural and formal sciences. We argue that mechanistic computational models form a common ground for social and natural sciences and look forward to possible future information flow across the social-natural divide.