RELSIM - An On-Line Language for Discrete Simulation in Social Sciences

Citation

Nicolaides, Pericles Leonidas (1975) RELSIM - An On-Line Language for Discrete Simulation in Social Sciences. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/czr0-2x47. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:09142021-200416356

Abstract

With the progress of science, our models of the world or any of its aspects become more and more complex, and therefore less and less susceptible to analytical solution. This is especially true in the field of social sciences, where statistical and stochastic processes are indispensable tools for model examination.

As a result, various simulation languages or packages have been developed to aid in the formulation and testing of such models. This thesis considers the directions that such languages have taken, and introduces a new such language, RELSIM, which attempts to meet present needs of the potential simulation designer. It features a simple structure that is also very flexible, and a timesharing environment, which allows dialogue, gaming and experimentation in the design and the actual simulation run.

A full description of RELSIM is given, with examples illustrating its use, and the implementation of the language on the REL system is also discussed.

Thesis Files