Effects of attachment preferences on coevolution of opinions and networks

Li-Xin Zhong, Fei Ren, Tian Qiu, Jiang-Rong Xu, Bi-Hui Chen and Cai-Feng Liu

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 2010, vol. 389, issue 13, 2557-2565

Abstract: In the coevolution of network structures and opinion formation, we investigate the effects of a mixed population with distinctive relinking preferences on both the convergence time and the network structures. It has been found that a heterogeneous network structure is easier to be reached with more high-degree-preferential (HDP) nodes. There exists high correlation between the convergence time and the network heterogeneity. The heterogeneous degree distribution caused by preferential attachment accelerates the convergence to a consensus state and the shortened convergence time inhibits the occurrence of the following disquieting situation that occurs in a continuously evolving network: with preferential attachment and long-time evolvement, most of the nodes would become separated and only a few leaders would have immediate neighbors. Analytical calculations based on mean field theory reveal that both the transition point ptr and the consensus time τ depend upon the standard deviation of the degree distribution σd. ptr increases while τ decreases with the rise of σd. Functions of ptr=〈k〉/(〈k〉+1) and τ=a(N)K/(σd2−K) are found. Theoretical analyses are in accordance with simulation data.

Keywords: Coevolving networks; Opinion formation; Personal preference (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:389:y:2010:i:13:p:2557-2565

DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2010.02.019

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