<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>This paper addresses new trends in quantitative geography research. Modern social science research - including economic and social geography - has in the past decades shown an increasing interest in micro-oriented behaviour of actors. This is <italic>inter alia</italic> clearly reflected in spatial interaction models (SIMs), where discrete choice approaches have assumed a powerful position. This paper aims to provide in particular a concise review of micro-based research, with the aim to review the potential - but also the caveats - of micro-models to map out human behaviour. In particular, attention will be devoted to interactive learning principles that shape individual decisions. Lessons from cognitive sciences will be put forward and illustrated, amongst others on the basis of computational neural networks or spatial econometric approaches. The methodology of deductive reasoning under conditions of large data bases in studying human mobility will be questioned as well. In this context more extensive attention is given to <italic>ceteris paribus</italic> conditions and evolutionary thinking.</p></abstract>

This paper addresses new trends in quantitative geography research. Modern social science research - including economic and social geography - has in the past decades shown an increasing interest in micro-oriented behaviour of actors. This is inter alia clearly reflected in spatial interaction models (SIMs), where discrete choice approaches have assumed a powerful position. This paper aims to provide in particular a concise review of micro-based research, with the aim to review the potential - but also the caveats - of micro-models to map out human behaviour. In particular, attention will be devoted to interactive learning principles that shape individual decisions. Lessons from cognitive sciences will be put forward and illustrated, amongst others on the basis of computational neural networks or spatial econometric approaches. The methodology of deductive reasoning under conditions of large data bases in studying human mobility will be questioned as well. In this context more extensive attention is given to ceteris paribus conditions and evolutionary thinking.

Behaviour of Humans and Behaviour of Models in Dynamic Space

Department of Spatial Economics, Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Quaestiones Geographicae

{"article-title":"Behaviour of Humans and Behaviour of Models in Dynamic Space"}

This paper addresses new trends in quantitative geography research. Modern social science research - including economic and social geography - has in the past...

Behaviour of Humans and Behaviour of Models in Dynamic Space

Publié en ligne: 21 juin 2012

Pages: 7 - 19

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10117-012-0013-9

Mots clés
quantitative geography, spatial econometrics, space-time geography, space-economy

This content is open access.

Behaviour of Humans and Behaviour of Models in Dynamic Space

Publié en ligne: 21 juin 2012

Pages: 7 - 19

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10117-012-0013-9

Mots clésquantitative geography, spatial econometrics, space-time geography, space-economy

This content is open access.

Mots clés
quantitative geography, spatial econometrics, space-time geography, space-economy