The Dynamics of Opinion

UCSB scholars develop a mathematical model to clarify how truth wins or loses in social groups

by Jim Medina

"We see it in politics time and time again: A powerful individual convinces a group of people to disregard a statement of fact — no matter how strong the supporting scientific evidence — and instead take up a false position. Now, two UC Santa Barbara scholars have analyzed the conditions under which group discussion reaches consensus and propagates either true or false positions depending on the group’s influence system. Their findings, in a paper titled “How Truth Wins in Opinion Dynamics Along Issue Sequences,” appear in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences."

Read more of Jim Medina's article from The UC Santa Barbara Current here.