2013/11/09 by Chengjun Wang, Wang, Cheng-Jun
Physics and Astronomy · Social Sciences · #Complex Network Analysis Techniques #Computers and Society (cs.CY) #Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation #FOS: Computer and information sciences #Opinion Dynamics and Social Influence
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1401.6106
openalex publication_date 2013/11/09 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The purpose of this study is threefold: first, to bring reference groups back into the framework of spiral of silence (SOS) by proposing an extended framework of dual opinion climate; second, to investigate the boundary conditions of SOS; third, to identify the characteristics of SOS in terms of spatial variation and temporal evolution. Modeling SOS with agent-based models, the findings suggest (1) there is no guarantee of SOS with reference groups being brought back; (2) Stable existence of SOS is contingent upon the comparative strength of mass media over reference groups; (3) SOS is size-dependent upon reference groups and the population; (4) the growth rate of SOS decreases over time. Thus, this research presents an extension of the SOS theory.