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A Consumer's Guide to Texts on Mathematical Modeling

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BenderEdward R., An Introduction to Mathematical Modeling. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1978, 256 pp., $16.95.

LaveCharles A. and MarchJames G., An Introduction to Models in the Social Sciences. New York: Harper & Row, 1975, 421 pp., $7.95 paper.

MalkevitchJoseph and MeyerWalter, Graphs, Models and Finite Mathematics. Englewood Cliffs, N. J.: Prentice-Hall, 1974, 515 pp., $13.95 paper.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2011

Dina A. Zinnes
Affiliation:
Indiana University
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Abstract

Five texts on mathematical modeling in the social sciences which have appeared within the last five years are described and evaluated. The analysis of the texts proceeds by considering such issues as the mathematical background required, general readability, ability of the text to train the reader to develop his own models, consideration of important philosophical issues inherent in modeling, and the types—substantive and mathematical—of models covered. The goal of the review is to pinpoint those texts, or parts of texts, that are most useful to the researcher in international relations.

Type
Review Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Trustees of Princeton University 1979

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References

1 Richardson, Lewis F., Arms and Insecurity: A Mathematical Study of the Causes and Origins of War (Pittsburgh: Boxwood Press 1960).Google Scholar

2 Harary, Frank, Norman, Robert Z. and Cartwright, Dorwin, Structural Models: An Introduction to the Theory of Directed Graphs (New York: Wiley 1965).Google Scholar

3 Arrow, Kenneth J., Social Choice and Individual Values (2d ed.; New York: Wiley 1963).Google Scholar

4 Wagner, David L., Perkins, Ronald T., and Taagepera, Rein, “Complete Solution to Richardson's Arms Race Equations,” Journal of Peace Science, I (Spring 1975) 159–72.CrossRefGoogle Scholar