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CS359 Computational Social Choice

CS359-15 Computational Social Choice

Academic year
24/25
Department
Computer Science
Level
Undergraduate Level 3
Module leader
Markus Brill
Credit value
15
Module duration
10 weeks
Assessment
Multiple
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

Introductory description

Computational Social Choice (COMSOC) addresses problems at the interface of social choice theory and computer science. Social choice theory is the formal study of collective decision-making processes, an important example of which are voting rules. We discuss concepts from social choice theory and investigate axiomatic and computational aspects.

Module aims

In this module, we study collective decision making from a mathematical and algorithmic perspective. We formally model situations in which the preferences of agents (or voters) need to be aggregated into a collective choice.
Key questions include:

  • What does it mean to make rational choices?
  • Which formal properties should an aggregation function satisfy?
  • Which of these properties can be satisfied simultaneously?
  • How difficult is it to compute collective choices?
  • How can we achieve the ideal of proportional representation?
    We will address all these questions formally, by means of mathematical definitions and theorems. A key role will be played by the axiomatic method.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Specific topics include: choice theory, Arrow's impossibility result, restricted domains of preferences, approval voting, scoring rules (plurality, Borda, etc.), Kemeny's rule, tournament solutions, strategic voting, multiwinner elections, apportionment methods, and proportional representation.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • understand fundamental tradeoffs in the context of collective decision making
  • model preferences and aggregation methods
  • develop (efficient) algorithms for collective decision making
  • analyse axiomatic and computational properties of preference aggregation problems

Indicative reading list

See Talis Aspire link

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Interdisciplinary

Computational Social Choice is a research field at the intersection of computer science and economics (as part of the area often referred to as "Economics and Computation"). It is also related to mathematics, philosophy, and (theoretical) political science.

Subject specific skills

Understanding of fundamental tradeoffs when making collective decisions;
modelling preference aggregation methods and assessing their properties;
developing efficient algorithms for preference aggregation problems;
analysing axiomatic properties of voting rules.

Transferable skills

Critical and strategic thinking;
problem solving;
fair and representative collective decision-making.

Study time

Type Required
Lectures 30 sessions of 1 hour (20%)
Seminars 9 sessions of 1 hour (6%)
Private study 81 hours (54%)
Assessment 30 hours (20%)
Total 150 hours

Private study description

Inclusive of private study, coursework, problem sheets, background reading and revision.

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group D
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
Coursework: Problem Set 1 10% 5 hours Yes (extension)

This assessment is eligible for self-certification (extension).

Coursework: Problem Set 2 10% 5 hours Yes (extension)

This assessment is eligible for self-certification (extension).

Exam 80% 20 hours No

Students are asked to solve exercises that are similar in style to the exercises on the problem sheets.


  • Answerbook Pink (12 page)
Assessment group R
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
Exam 100% No
Feedback on assessment

Feedback on problem sets in seminars.

Past exam papers for CS359

Courses

This module is Optional for:

  • Year 3 of UCSA-G4G1 Undergraduate Discrete Mathematics
  • Year 3 of UCSA-G4G3 Undergraduate Discrete Mathematics
  • Year 4 of UCSA-G4G4 Undergraduate Discrete Mathematics (with Intercalated Year)
  • Year 4 of UCSA-G4G2 Undergraduate Discrete Mathematics with Intercalated Year

This module is Option list A for:

  • Year 4 of UCSA-G504 MEng Computer Science (with intercalated year)
  • Year 3 of UCSA-G500 Undergraduate Computer Science
  • Year 4 of UCSA-G502 Undergraduate Computer Science (with Intercalated Year)
  • UCSA-G503 Undergraduate Computer Science MEng
    • Year 3 of G500 Computer Science
    • Year 3 of G503 Computer Science MEng

Further Information

Term 2

15 CATS (7.5 ECTS)

Online Material