This work describes and discusses the new computer-based research methods for studying and modelling complex social phenomena. It examines their impact on the social and behavioural sciences and their potential for future research. This wide-ranging collection is divided into three sections covering computer simulation, neural networks and data analysis. Each carries an introduction explaining the importance of methods covered, whilst each chapter illustrates their uses. Making no assumption of a background in computer science, the contributors cover topics such as computer simulation, neural and social networks and the visualization of complex network data.