Modeling and analysis of social phenomena: challenges and possible research directions

TL;DR

This paper discusses the challenges and future research directions in modeling social phenomena, especially opinion dynamics, encouraging interdisciplinary approaches from physics, mathematics, engineering, and social sciences.

Contribution

It highlights key challenges and proposes research directions for advancing the understanding of social phenomena through interdisciplinary methods.

Findings

Identifies major challenges in modeling social phenomena

Suggests new research directions in opinion dynamics

Encourages interdisciplinary collaboration

Abstract

This opening editorial aims to interest researchers and encourage novel research in the closely related fields of sociophysics and computational social science. We briefly discuss challenges and possible research directions in the study of social phenomena, with a particular focus on opinion dynamics. The aim of this special issue is to allow physicists, mathematicians, engineers and social scientists to show their current research interests in social dynamics, as well as to collect recent advances and new techniques in the analysis of social systems.