TOKYO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Course description and aims

This course deals with basics of non-cooperative game theory, which is a mathematical theory of competitive decision making situations, and many variations and generalizations of non-cooperative game theory through discussion, group work, lectures, and working on exercise problems.

The aim of this course is to acquaint the students with the characteristics of the theories by providing mathematical definitions of various concepts and analysis methods of the theories, which include: basic frameworks in non-cooperative game theory such as “games in normal form,” “games in extensive form,” and “repeated games,” and variations and generalizations of non-cooperative game theory such as “metagame theory,” “conflict analysis,” “hypergame theory,” and “soft game theory.”

Student learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
1) State the definitions of concepts used in the mathematical theories of competitive decision making situations;
2) State the analysis methods in the mathematical theories of competitive decision making situations; and
3) State the characteristics of the mathematical theories of competitive decision making situations.

Keywords

games in normal form, games in extensive form, repeated games, metagame analysis, conflict analysis, hypergame theory, soft game theory

Competencies that will be developed

Class flow

Each theory is dealt with over two or three classes.

In the first class, the students examine examples of decision making situations which can be described by the theory, first individually, second in pairs, then in groups of four, and finally with the class as a whole. Then a lecture on the theory is presented, and the students work on exercise problems. At the end of the class, each student writes and submits a “summary report” on what he/she learned through individual observation, other students’ ideas, the lecture, and exercise problems.

In the following class(es), as in the first class, the students learn analysis methods in the theory through discussion, group work, lectures, and working on exercise problems, then write and submit “summary reports.”

Course schedule/Required learning

Textbook(s)

Takehiro Inohara, “Rationality and Flexibility,” Keiso-syobo, 2002 (in Japanese) (Section 1.1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5) (ISBN-10: 4326502223, ISBN-13: 978-4326502226)

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Takehiro Inohara, “Emotions and Perception,” Keiso-syobo, 2002 (in Japanese) (ISBN-10: 4326502231, ISBN-13: 978-4326502233). Course materials are found on OCW-i or provided during class.

Assessment criteria and methods

Assessment will be based on “summary reports” written during each class (50% in total) and the final examination (50%).

Related courses

• LAH.T108 ： Decision Making A
• LAH.T307 ： Decision Making C
• LAH.T107 ： Social Modeling A
• LAH.T209 ： Social Modeling B
• LAH.T308 ： Social Modeling C

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

Prospective students should have interests in decision making problems. Students must have successfully completed “Decision Making A” or have equivalent knowledge.

Contact information (e-mail and phone)    Notice : Please replace from "[at]" to "@"(half-width character).

Takehiro Inohara, inohara.t.aa[at]m.titech.ac.jp

Office hours

Instructor’s office: Rm. 813, 8 Fl., West Bldg. 9. Contact by e-mail in advance to schedule an appointment.

Other

This course includes the content of science.