Modeling and Forecasting of Social Dynamics (MFSD)
Abstract
Exploiting prior work in the areas of social media and social networks in programs such as Social Media in Strategic Communication (SMISC) in this project and Graph-theoretical Research in Algorithm Performance & Hardware for Social networks (GRAPHS) in project CCS-02, the Modeling and Forecasting of Social Dynamics (MFSD) program will develop and demonstrate modeling capabilities that anticipate changes in social systems. The U.S. military works with local populations in an effort to strengthen relationships and gain new allies for purposes of security cooperation, with successful engagement fundamental to meeting these objectives. Current approaches to engagement planning are more art than science and rigorous approaches for understanding the social dynamics of local populations are lacking. MFSD will address this need by developing and demonstrating analogical societal models that, while reduced in scope, preserve the key properties of full social systems while remaining amenable to simulation. MFSD will rigorously test and validate the resulting models and establish the limits to the predictive capability they provide. Social media and other computer-mediated communications provide an important opportunity both as drivers of social dynamics and as indicators of social attitudes. The techniques that MFSD creates will enable the U.S. military to engage more effectively with local populations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2017
- Source ID
- 92c65ba2d1e59e42d7e2c8ec821eb1bc