Dynamics of opinion formation in hierarchical social networks: Network structure and initial bias

P. P. Li and P. M. Hui ()

The European Physical Journal B: Condensed Matter and Complex Systems, 2008, vol. 61, issue 3, 371-376

Abstract: The dynamics of opinion formation based on a majority rule model is studied in a network with the social hierarchical structure as one of its limits. The exit probability is found to change sensitively with the number of nodes in the system, but not with the parameter of homophyly characterizing the network structure. The consensus time is found to be a result of non-trivial interplay between the network structure characterized by the parameter of homophyly and the initial bias in opinion. For unbiased initial opinion, a common consensus is easier to be reached in a random network than a highly structured hierarchical network and it follows the behavior of the length of shortest paths. For biased initial opinion, a common consensus is easier to be reached in a hierarchical network, as the local majority opinion of the groups may take on the biased opinions and hence be the same. Copyright EDP Sciences/Società Italiana di Fisica/Springer-Verlag 2008

Keywords: 87.23.Ge Dynamics of social systems; 89.75.Hc Networks and genealogical trees; 02.50.Le Decision theory and game theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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DOI: 10.1140/epjb/e2008-00082-4

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