Individual coursework (40%)

A mock coursework is available: here.

The topics for the individual coursework for the past few years have been:

Group project (60%)

Carry out a group research project using Game Theory. This can either be a theoretical exploration of a topic of Game Theory or an applied problem: investigating some interactive process using the tools of the course.

You will evidence your progress with 2 mediums:

A 2 page paper
A 15 minute recorded presentation

Your final submission should include the following 3 files:

A main.pdf file: the pdf file for a 2 page paper written in LaTeX.
A presentation.mp4 (or similar file format): the video recording of your 15 minute presentation
A contribution.md file: a file describing the contributions of every member of your group.

Marking criteria

2 Page Paper

Summary: Has a clear description of the high-level work undertaken been given. [10%]
A statement of need: Do the authors clearly state what problems their work is applied to. [10%]
State of the field: Do the authors describe how any other work relates to theirs? [10%]
Quality of writing: Is the paper well written (i.e., it does not require editing for structure, language, or writing quality)? [10%]
References: Is the list of references complete, and is everything cited appropriately that should be cited (e.g., papers, datasets, software)? Do references in the text use the proper citation syntax? [10%]

15 Minute Presentation

Scope: Are the details of the work clear? [10%]
Theory: Is an understanding of relevant theory demonstrated? [10%]
Code: Is code well written and appropriate? [10%]
Accuracy: Is the work correct? [10%]
Presentation: Was the presentation format used appropriately? Were the visual aids appropriate? [10%]

Examples of presentations are available at: vknight.org/pop/

Past group projects

A list of titles of past projects:

2022-2023

A game theoretic model for the spread of bird flu
Does Crime-Pay? Co-Evolution of Insider Trading and its Regulation
Modelling Monster Hunter World Using Replicator Dynamics
Money Exchange Game
A game theoretical analysis of strategy steps
Should a Country Prioritize Military Spending at the Expense of Economic Growth?
Using the Moran Process to Cast Dating Shows
An exploration of University Project Strategies
How to survive the Werewolves
Global Co-Operation: Central to Addressing Climate Change
A visualisation of evolutionary processes using the hawk and dove game
Game Theory: End Game Chess
A Game Theoretic Analysis of Netflix’s Decision to Ban Password Sharing
Dirty Dilemmas; Exploring Game Theory in the Dishwashing Dynamics of Shared Households
Academic vs Alcohol: An Investigation into Student Drinking Habits
The Traitors: Support or Betray
Exploring the Applications of Game Theory to Chessboxing
An Exploration of the Game Theory in Mahjong
Game Theory for optimal portfolio selection
The Evolution of Online Dating: Examining the Unique Approaches of Tinder and Hinge
Game Theory of Interview Scheduling
The Game Theory of playing Hard to get
Liar’s Dice: a game of deceit
Decision making in Cricket Based on Weather Conditions Using Game Theory
Modelling penalties effectively with use of probability
Is Cheat Really the Name of the Game?
Analyze the Best Move in a Five-in-a-row Endgame

2021-2022

The domestication of foxes through game theory
Noughts and Crosses
Love or money (Love Island)
A game theory investigation of chess openings
How engagement in social media can effect news
Fairness and game theory
What if there was a 4th strategy to rock paper scissors?
Going once, going twice… Sold! To the best player.
Applying game theory from the cold war to modern day.
Representing the dollar auction using game theory.
Which price setting strategy is best for competing companies to maximise profit: price war or price match guarantee
The evolution of Twenty20 cricket
Prisoner’s dilemma: applying Axelrod’s strategies to Amazon Prime versus Netflix
Analysing Wales’ decision to enter lockdown in response to England’s strategy during the COVID 19 pandemic
Maximising profit in a duopoly market
An iterated three person prisoner’s dilemma
Game theory of tennis
Vaccines if you please
A Monte Carlo analysis on the effects of the morality metrics in the iterated prisoners dilemma.
Cheating at a two player card game with a probability of being caught
Does self interest optimise public good?
Investigating a replicator dynamics model of Frank’s Zoo
The effect of implementing a budget cap on the Premier league
Can game theory explain football player prices?
Effective strategies in competitive bargaining tournaments

Log of past relevant classes

04/16/24: Individual Coursework Feedback

I have marked the individual coursework and the overall performance is impressive: the average mark is 85%.

02/16/24: Mid module feedback and meetings

On Tuesday we had two class. We went through your mid module feedback and had a brief discussion about meetings.

07/04/23: Overview of group coursework performance

The group coursework is a difficult assessment marked on a difficult scale. Summary of the class marks are here:

03/21/23: Discussing the individual coursework

In class today we discussed the individual coursework. I did my best to take all questions and ensure everyone understood what each question is asking for.

02/23/23: Mid module feedback

On Friday you spent some time filling in the mid module feedback for Game Theory. Here I will go over some of the recurring points raised.

02/14/23: Valentines day

In today’s class we spoke about a deadline for the individual coursework but spent most of our time taking the initial steps that a research project would take to model gift giving for Valentines day.