Computational Model Library

Homophily-driven Network Evolution and Diffusion (1.0.0)

The two key processes included in the model are network evolution and diffusion. The evolution process of the homophilious network is inspired by the famous “Segregation Model” (Schelling 1971). The process starts with a small-world network (Watts 1999; Wilensky 2005). In our network, each agent has a threshold value for her “happiness level”. This level is related to the fraction of the friends with the same status in the agent’s network neighborhood, as in Schelling’s model. “Unhappy” agents (i.e. agents with fewer neighbors of their own status than what is desired according to the agent’s happiness threshold) form ties with agents alike, and break ties with others. %-similar-wanted is the model parameter that represents this personal threshold.

Homophily, besides its indirect role through shaping the network structure on which the diffusion takes place, also has a direct influence on the diffusion processes in the model via information flows. The network structure stays intact during the diffusion phase. In other words, we assume that the adopted behavior does not lead to homophilious tie formation or dissolution.

Diffusion starts with the initiation of the early adopters and takes off as people make decisions via social influence whether to adopt the innovation or not. The adoption mechanism in this study is an example of threshold models (Granovetter 1978). The most important factor in adoption decisions is the “adoption threshold”. An agent adopts the innovation if the number of same status friends in the network neighborhood who adopted the innovation is more than the “adoption threshold”. There are two ways of expressing the threshold, as an absolute number or as a fraction. Since our diffusion process includes making a decision about whether to adopt or not, expressing it as a fraction is preferred (Watts 2002).

NetLogo_-_Yavas_Yucel_HomophilyDiffusion_Users_gonenc_Desktop.png

Release Notes

Associated Publications

Yavaş, Mustafa, and Gönenç Yücel (2014) “Impact of Homophily on Diffusion Dynamics Over Social Networks”, Social Science Computer Review, Volume 32, Number 3.

Homophily-driven Network Evolution and Diffusion 1.0.0

The two key processes included in the model are network evolution and diffusion. The evolution process of the homophilious network is inspired by the famous “Segregation Model” (Schelling 1971). The process starts with a small-world network (Watts 1999; Wilensky 2005). In our network, each agent has a threshold value for her “happiness level”. This level is related to the fraction of the friends with the same status in the agent’s network neighborhood, as in Schelling’s model. “Unhappy” agents (i.e. agents with fewer neighbors of their own status than what is desired according to the agent’s happiness threshold) form ties with agents alike, and break ties with others. %-similar-wanted is the model parameter that represents this personal threshold.

Homophily, besides its indirect role through shaping the network structure on which the diffusion takes place, also has a direct influence on the diffusion processes in the model via information flows. The network structure stays intact during the diffusion phase. In other words, we assume that the adopted behavior does not lead to homophilious tie formation or dissolution.

Diffusion starts with the initiation of the early adopters and takes off as people make decisions via social influence whether to adopt the innovation or not. The adoption mechanism in this study is an example of threshold models (Granovetter 1978). The most important factor in adoption decisions is the “adoption threshold”. An agent adopts the innovation if the number of same status friends in the network neighborhood who adopted the innovation is more than the “adoption threshold”. There are two ways of expressing the threshold, as an absolute number or as a fraction. Since our diffusion process includes making a decision about whether to adopt or not, expressing it as a fraction is preferred (Watts 2002).

Version Submitter First published Last modified Status
1.0.0 Gönenç Yücel Thu Jan 8 21:12:52 2015 Mon Feb 19 20:50:15 2018 Published

Discussion

This website uses cookies and Google Analytics to help us track user engagement and improve our site. If you'd like to know more information about what data we collect and why, please see our data privacy policy. If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies.
Accept