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Opinion formation with time-varying bounded confidence.

ABSTRACT: When individuals in social groups communicate with one another and are under the influence of neighbors' opinions, they typically revise their own opinions to adapt to such peer opinions. The individual threshold of bounded confidence will thus be affected by both a change in individual confidence and by neighbor influence. Individuals thus update their own opinions with new bounded confidence, while their updated opinions also influence their neighbors' opinions. Based on this reasoned factual assumption, we propose an opinion dynamics model with time-varying bounded confidence. A directed network is formed by the rule of the individual bounded confidence threshold. The threshold of individual bounded confidence involves both confidence variation and the in/out degree of the individual node. When the confidence variation is greater, an individual's confidence in persisting in his own opinion in interactions is weaker, and the individual is more likely to adopt neighbors' opinions. In networks, the in/out degree is determined by individual neighbors. Our main research involves the process of opinion evolution and the basic laws of opinion cluster formation. Group opinions converge exponentially to consensus with stable neighbors. An individual opinion evolution is determined by the average neighbor opinion effect strength. We also explore the conditions involved in forming a stable neighbor relationship and the influence of the confidence variation in the convergence of the threshold of bounded confidence. The results show that the influence on opinion evolution is greater with increased confidence variation.

SUBMITTER: Zhang Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5338805 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Opinion formation with time-varying bounded confidence.

Zhang YunHong Y Liu QiPeng Q Zhang SiYing S

PloS one 20170306 3

When individuals in social groups communicate with one another and are under the influence of neighbors' opinions, they typically revise their own opinions to adapt to such peer opinions. The individual threshold of bounded confidence will thus be affected by both a change in individual confidence and by neighbor influence. Individuals thus update their own opinions with new bounded confidence, while their updated opinions also influence their neighbors' opinions. Based on this reasoned factual ...[more]

PMID: 28264038

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Project description:PurposeIn studies of effects of time-varying drug exposures, adequate adjustment for time-varying covariates is often necessary to properly control for confounding. However, the granularity of the available covariate data may not be sufficiently fine, for example when covariates are measured for participants only when their exposure levels change.MethodsTo illustrate the impact of choices regarding the frequency of measuring time-varying covariates, we simulated data for a large target trial and for large observational studies, varying in covariate measurement design. Covariates were measured never, on a fixed-interval basis, or each time the exposure level switched. For the analysis, it was assumed that covariates remain constant in periods of no measurement. Cumulative survival probabilities for continuous exposure and non-exposure were estimated using inverse probability weighting to adjust for time-varying confounding, with special emphasis on the difference between 5-year event risks.ResultsWith monthly covariate measurements, estimates based on observational data coincided with trial-based estimates, with 5-year risk differences being zero. Without measurement of baseline or post-baseline covariates, this risk difference was estimated to be 49% based on the available observational data. With measurements on a fixed-interval basis only, 5-year risk differences deviated from the null, to 29% for 6-monthly measurements, and with magnitude increasing up to 35% as the interval length increased. Risk difference estimates diverged from the null to as low as -18% when covariates were measured depending on exposure level switching.ConclusionOur simulations highlight the need for careful consideration of time-varying covariates in designing studies on time-varying exposures. We caution against implementing designs with long intervals between measurements. The maximum length required will depend on the rates at which treatments and covariates change, with higher rates requiring shorter measurement intervals.

Dataset Information

Opinion formation with time-varying bounded confidence.

Publications

Opinion formation with time-varying bounded confidence.

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