Semantic network mapping of religious material: testing multi-agent computer models of social theories against real-world data
Authored by Justin E Lane
Date Published: 2015
DOI: 10.1007/s10339-015-0649-1
Sponsors:
John Templeton Foundation
Platforms:
Semantic network analysis
Model Documentation:
Other Narrative
Model Code URLs:
Model code not found
Abstract
Agent-based modeling allows researchers to investigate theories of
complex social phenomena and subsequently use the model to generate new
hypotheses that can then be compared to real-world data. However, computer modeling has been underutilized in regard to the understanding
of religious systems, which often require very complex theories with
multiple interacting variables (Braxton et al. in Method Theory Study
Relig 24(3):267-290, 2012. doi: 10.1163/157006812X635709
10.1163/157006812X635709{''} Lane in J Cogn Sci Relig 1(2):161-180, 2013). This paper presents an example of how computer modeling can be
used to explore, test, and further understand religious systems, specifically looking at one prominent theory of religious ritual. The
process is continuous: theory building, hypothesis generation, testing
against real-world data, and improving the model. In this example, the
output of an agent-based model of religious behavior is compared against
real-world religious sermons and texts using semantic network analysis.
It finds that most religious materials exhibit unique scale-free
small-world properties and that a concept's centrality in a religious
schema best predicts its frequency of presentation. These results reveal
that there adjustments need to be made to existing models of religious
ritual systems and provide parameters for future models. The paper ends
with a discussion of implications for a new multi-agent model of
doctrinal ritual behaviors as well as propositions for further
interdisciplinary research concerning the multi-agent modeling of
religious ritual behaviors.
Tags
Culture
Textual analysis
Fusion