EFFECTS OF COMPLEX SYSTEM STRUCTURE AND EXTERNAL FIELD IN OPINION FORMATION

2007 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 1583-1590 ◽  
Author(s):  
LONG GUO ◽  
XU CAI
Keyword(s):  
Complex System ◽  
External Field ◽  
Government Policy ◽  
Opinion Dynamics ◽  
Clustering Coefficient ◽  
System Structure ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Special Role ◽  
Opinion Formation

Around us, the society structure and external field, such as government policy, the newspaper, the internet and other mass media, play a special role in shaping the attitudes, beliefs and public opinion. For studying the role of the society structure and the external field, we propose a new opinion model based on the former models. With computer simulations of opinion dynamics, we find that the smaller the clustering coefficient and the society size, the easier the consensus phase is reached and other interesting results.

Diaspora and Transnationalism: the Changing Contours of Ethnonational Identity of Indian Diaspora

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 383-402
Author(s):  
Ajaya K. Sahoo ◽  
Anindita Shome
Keyword(s):  
Government Policy ◽  
South Asians ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Indian Diaspora ◽  
Indian Government ◽  
Dynamic Changes ◽  
Diaspora And Transnationalism ◽  
Significant Factors ◽  
Diasporic Communities

Abstract Diasporic communities have historically maintained—either actively or passively—their ethnonational identities, be it in the case of classical diasporas such as the Jews or Armenians or the case of more modern diasporas such as the Indians or other South Asians. However, the ethnonational identities of diasporic communities have strengthened significantly in recent times as a result of the global forces such as the Internet that created and recreated the existing and newer ways of transnationalism and ethnonationalism. The study of the Indian diaspora is inherent because of the fact that these global forces have drastically changed the ethnonational identity of Indians in the diaspora. There are a plethora of factors that played an important role in this process of transformation. This article tries to examine two of the most significant factors that strengthened the ethnonational identity, such as the dynamic changes in the Indian government policy towards diaspora and the role of the Internet that facilitates the youth to play a prominent role in this neo-diaspora.

scholarly journals O papel das máquinas sociais na formação de opinião em rede | The Role of Social Machines in Opinion Formation on Web

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Célio Andrade Santana Júnior ◽  
Camila Oliveira Lima
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Third Parties ◽  
Network Activity ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Information Flows ◽  
Opinion Formation ◽  
Web 3.0 ◽  
Internet Of Everything ◽  
Social Machines

RESUMO Trata-se de uma reflexão sobre a existência de máquinas (software) atuantes na internet que têm como principais objetivos influenciar opiniões, induzir comportamentos e até mesmo modificar hábitos dos usuários (humanos) na rede. Para tanto, faz-se necessário analisar a conjuntura atual da internet considerando os bots e descrever alguns fatos, envolvendo tais máquinas, que já ocorreram em rede. A reflexão foi baseada em uma pesquisa bibliográfica e apresenta como resultado a constatação de que os bots já participam, de maneira autônoma, tanto quanto os seres humanos na internet, e que eles utilizam as informações disponíveis em rede para influenciar seres humanos a adotar hábitos em rede que são de interesses de terceiros. Para tanto, as máquinas já estabelecem regimes de informação próprios e participam de maneira considerável dos círculos de proximidade de usuários humanos. Dessa forma, desconsiderar os bots dos fluxos informacionais existentes na internet significa ignorar quase metade da atividade em rede, o que os deixa em uma situação de protagonismo nas relações em rede.Palavras-chave: Máquinas Sociais; Web 3.0; Internet de Tudo.              ABSTRACT This is a reflection on the existence of machines (Software) acting on the Internet whose primary objectives are to influence opinions, induce behaviors and even modify the habits of users (humans) in the network. Thus, it is necessary to analyze the current conjuncture of the Internet considering the bots and to describe some facts involving these machines, which have already been carried out in a network. The reflection was based on bibliographical research and presents the realization that bots are already participating autonomously, as much as humans, on the Internet and that they use the information available on the network to influence people in adopting habits and Networks that are of interest to third parties. To this end, the machines already establish their information systems and participate considerably in the nearby circles of human users. Thus, to disregard the bots of information flows on the Internet means ignoring almost half of network activity, which leaves them in a situation of prominence in network relationships.Keywords: Social Machines; Web 3.0; Internet of Everything.

scholarly journals Multi-choice opinion dynamics model based on Latané theory

2019 ◽  
Vol 92 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Przemysław Bańcerowski ◽  
Krzysztof Malarz
Keyword(s):  
Social Impact ◽  
Opinion Dynamics ◽  
Boltzmann Distribution ◽  
Opinion Formation ◽  
Disorder Phase Transition ◽  
The Social ◽  
Model Control ◽  
Average Fraction ◽  
Average Size

Abstract In this paper Nowak–Szamrej–Latané model is reconsidered. This computerised model of opinion formation bases on Latané theory of social impact. We modify this model to allow for multi (more than two) opinions. With computer simulations we show that in the modified model the signatures of order/disorder phase transition are still observed. The transition may be observed in the average fraction of actors sharing the ith opinion, its variation and also average number of clusters of actors with the same opinion and the average size of the largest cluster of actors sharing the same opinion. Also an influence of model control parameters on simulation results is shortly reviewed. For a homogeneous society with identical actors’ supportiveness and persuasiveness the critical social temperature TC decreases with an increase of the number of available opinions K from TC = 6.1 (K = 2) via 4.7, 4.1 to TC = 3.6 for K = 3, 4, 5, respectively. The social temperature plays a role of a standard Boltzmann distribution parameter containing social impact as the equivalent of energy or one may think about it just as on a noise parameter. Graphical abstract

Measuring the role of two competing groups of informed agents in opinion formation

SIMULATION ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 95 (8) ◽  
pp. 753-766
Author(s):  
Kamal S Selim ◽  
Ahmed E Okasha ◽  
Fatma R Farag
Keyword(s):  
Opinion Dynamics ◽  
The Other ◽  
Social Characteristics ◽  
Opinion Formation ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Bounded Confidence ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Bounded Confidence Model

For politicians, to promote intended messages to different groups of individuals, they could employ strategic individuals called “informed agents.” The aim of this article is to explore and measure the impact of two competing groups of informed agents on opinion dynamics within a society exposed to two extreme opinions. Thus, an agent-based model is developed as an extension to the bounded confidence model by assuming the existence of two groups of informed agents. The impact of these agents with respect to their social characteristics, such as, their size in the society, how tolerant they are, their self-weight and attitudes about others’ opinions is explored. Different assumptions about the initial opinion distributions and their effect are also investigated. Due to the difficulty of observing a real society, social simulation experiments are constructed based on artificial societies.The simulations conducted resulted in some interesting findings. With no dominating group of the two informed agents, the society will be ended up concentrated around a moderate position. On the other hand, with significant difference between the two group sizes, the larger group will polarize the population towards its opinion. However, this conclusion will not apply if the population is skewed towards the other opinion. In such case, the larger group will only succeed to turn some of the society to be more moderate. In a society skewed towards extreme opinion, dominant informed agents adopting the other extreme will not be able to shift the society towards their opinion. Finally, in radical societies informed agents could turn most of the society to be extremists.

Introducing a more realistic model for opinion formation considering instability in social structure

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (11) ◽  
pp. 1650136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sajjad Salehi ◽  
Fattaneh Taghiyareh
Keyword(s):  
Social Structure ◽  
Opinion Dynamics ◽  
Realistic Model ◽  
Balance Theory ◽  
Opinion Formation ◽  
Signed Network ◽  
Simulation Results ◽  
Degree Of Instability ◽  
Structural Indicator

Opinion formation is a process through which interactions of individuals and dynamism of their opinions in effect of neighbors are modeled. In this paper, in an effort to model the opinion formation more realistically, we have introduced a model that considers the role of network structure in opinion dynamics. In this model, each individual changes his opinion in a way so as to decrease its difference with the opinion of trusted neighbors while he intensifies his dissention with the untrusted ones. Considering trust/distrust relations as a signed network, we have defined a structural indicator which shows the degree of instability in social structure and is calculated based on the structural balance theory. It is also applied as feedback to the opinion formation process affecting its dynamics. Our simulation results show formation of a set of clusters containing individuals holding opinions having similar values. Also, the opinion value of each individual is far from the ones of distrusted neighbors. Since this model considers distrust and instability of relations in society, it can offer a more realistic model of opinion formation.

Notes on self-confidence in opinion dynamics

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (11) ◽  
pp. 2050163
Author(s):  
Zhaogang Ding ◽  
Xinlu Shi ◽  
Yong Wu
Keyword(s):  
Nonlinear Models ◽  
Opinion Dynamics ◽  
The Self ◽  
Kuznets Curve ◽  
Opinion Formation ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Degroot Model ◽  
The Relationship

In some research involving opinion formation, there are some details that have not been studied deeply, just as the role of a person’s self-confidence in opinion dynamics. This small but important detail needs to be cleared up. Hence, in this paper, we want to discuss the self-confidence in opinion dynamics with regard to some common linear and nonlinear models: DeGroot, Friedkin–Johnsen, Deffuant–Weisbuch and Hegselmann–Krause (HK) model. We unfold that (1) A person’s self-confidence assumption has an important impact on the consensus condition in DeGroot model; (2) The relationship between the self-confidence on the initial opinion and the current opinion follows a Kuznets curve in Friedkin–Johnsen model; (3) A person’s self-confidence has a close relationship with the convergence parameter in Deffuant–Weisbuch model, which has little impact on the number of opinion clusters at the stable stage; and (4) A person’s self-confidence varies with time at first and then stays at a certain level finally in the HK model, while the person’s self-confidence does not change with time in above three models.

scholarly journals The role of suggestion in public opinion shaping of the audience of the Internet editions

Obraz ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (32) ◽  
pp. 70-79
Author(s):  
Natalia Rudenko
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
Mass Media ◽  
Value Orientations ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Sociological Research ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Opinion Formation ◽  
Electronic Information ◽  
Modern Mass

Introduction. Mass-and socially communicative technologies, that produce the content of modern mass media, are aimed at changing the beliefs, worldview, value orientations of the society, formation of certain behavioral patterns, and transformation of public opinion. Consumers of information, in particular, the audience of Internet editions, become an object of external influences and information aggression. Thus, a comprehensive study of the influence of semantic and structural organization of the content of the modern mass media on public opinion formation is really an actual and urgent task. The purpose of our research is to determine the role of such kind of manipulative technology as a suggestion in shaping the public opinion of the content consumers of the Internet editions (on the material of the electronic versions of the popular newspapers «The Guardian», «USA Today», «China Daily», «The Day», «Moscow Times»). In addition to theoretical, the basic methods of research were also empirical, in particular sociological research, for which the questionnaire was compiled. The respondents were offered to answer 13 questions, 10 of which were of a closed type and 3 questions on an assessment by a scale from 1 to 10. The questionnaire consisted of two blocks. The first block «Target Survey» contained 5 questions, the second block «Associative experiment» – 8 questions Anonymous survey was conducted in December 2018 – March 2019. The audience of the survey consisted of postgraduate students of different specialties, lecturers, and students of the departments of Germanic philology, journalism, and philology at Sumy State University (1st, 2nd, and 3d year students). According to the results of the survey, the most popular sources of information are social networks and electronic information portals, and newspapers. The level of confidence in the popular mass media is 75 %, while most consumers trust electronic information portals and newspapers. The level of influence on the personal opinion of the consumers of information is 60 %. The overall efficiency of the suggestion is 80 %. By the level of influence in its initial effect on the change and formation of reactions, the most effective instruments of suggestion at the lexical level are irony, emotionally-marked vocabulary, contrasts, set-expressions, metaphor-symbols, and also the instruments at the communicative-strategic level (emotionally-evaluative judgments). Keywords: public opinion, Internet editions, content, suggestion, survey.

scholarly journals Video interview in new media

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 92
Author(s):  
Lubov G. Antonova ◽  
Alesya I. Makhalova
Keyword(s):  
Mass Media ◽  
New Media ◽  
Facial Expressions ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Special Role ◽  
Investigative Journalism ◽  
New Model ◽  
Internet Platform ◽  
Integrated Concept

The article is devoted to the analysis of video interviews in new media in the context of the complex, integrated concept of «hypergenre». The material of video interviews published in YouTube, attempts to characterize genres, a complex combination of which is modern video interviews in new media. Special parameters of the hypergenre should be characterized on the Internet platform, which provides additional tools in genre design, including hyperlinks, video podcasts, special technologies for illustrating and confirming factuality, specific video metaphors and video quotes. The authors believe that, unlike print or television media, this hypergenre on the Internet platform acts simultaneously as an informational, analytical, and as an artistic and journalistic, which provides an opportunity to «consider» the features of related genres included in the integrative genre complex: conversations, chronicle notes, surveys, commentary, investigative journalism and some other media genres. Another feature of modern video interviews, explaining the special role of non-verbal signs, implicitly transmitting semantic signals in the context of video interviews, which include gestures, facial expressions, pro-semitic speaker, his personal image signs and tone of speech. As a result of the study of the new model of video interviews, the authors of the article offer a generalized media toolkit of modern hypergenre education and explain the demand and popularity of such a model in the mass media.

Development of Social and Economic Forecasting and Ideas of A. Anchishkin

2013 ◽  
pp. 143-155
Author(s):  
A. Klepach ◽  
G. Kuranov
Keyword(s):  
Economic Planning ◽  
Special Role ◽  
Economic Management ◽  
Economic Forecasting ◽  
Russian Economy ◽  
World Economic ◽  
Long Term Forecasting ◽  
Working Out

The role of the prominent Soviet economist, academician A. Anchishkin (1933—1987), whose 80th birth anniversary we celebrate this year, in the development of ideas and formation of economic forecasting in the country at the time when the directive planning acted as a leading tool of economic management is explored in the article. Besides, Anchishkin’s special role is noted in developing a comprehensive program of scientific and technical progress, an information basis for working out long-term forecasts of the country’s development, moreover, his contribution to the creation of long-term forecasting methodology and improvement of the statistical basis for economic analysis and economic planning. The authors show that social and economic forecasting in the period after 1991, which has undertaken a number of functions of economic planning, has largely relied on further development of Anchishkin’s ideas, at the same time responding to new challenges for the Russian economy development during its entry into the world economic system.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document