Attachment preferences in diverse collective problem-solving networks and systemic performance

Charles J. Gomez, Antonio D. Sirianni and Launy Schweiger

The Journal of Mathematical Sociology, 2025, vol. 49, issue 1, 47-81

Abstract: Collective problem-solving networks are common in modern life. They often benefit from having diverse members with complementary skills and perspectives, but this may be squandered if they self-select away from diverse counterparts and toward homogeneous groups or perceived competency. Building on the extensive tradition of “exploration-and-exploitation” agent-based modeling, we simulate communicative networks populated with diverse groups of agents tasked with solving complex problems. We compare diversity-seeking networks, where agents prefer ties to dissimilar agents, homophily-seeking networks, where agents prefer ties to similar agents, and merit-seeking networks, where agents prefer ties to agents who have found better solutions. We find that diversity-seeking networks perform well because diversity promotes more exploration for solutions and fosters network structures that more effectively disseminate them.

Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/0022250X.2024.2428641 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:taf:gmasxx:v:49:y:2025:i:1:p:47-81

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.tandfonline.com/pricing/journal/gmas20

DOI: 10.1080/0022250X.2024.2428641

Access Statistics for this article

The Journal of Mathematical Sociology is currently edited by Noah Friedkin

More articles in The Journal of Mathematical Sociology from Taylor & Francis Journals
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Chris Longhurst ().