Social Influence

Comparative Analysis of Recognition and Competition as Features of Social Influence Using Twitter

by Agnis Stibe

Co-authored with Prof. Harri Oinas-Kukkonen.
Published in Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Persuasive Technology, M. Bang and E.L. Ragnemalm (Eds.): PERSUASIVE 2012, LNCS 7284, pp. 274–279, Linköping, Sweden, June 6-8, 2012.

This paper studies how and to what extent social influence design principles can persuade people to participate in... more This paper studies how and to what extent social influence design principles can persuade people to participate in sharing their feedback. For this reason, a Twitter-based system was designed with persuasive software features of social influence at its core. The effects of recognition and competition features were tested in a pilot study in two computer rooms simultaneously. Their effects on the behavior of simulated airline travelers were compared. The main result of this study provides evidence of several positive effects, especially regarding the persuasive powers of recognition in a system’s design.

Social Networks, Effects on Developed Relationships

by H. Colleen Sinclair

Pulling the strings: Effects of friend and parent opinions on dating choices

by H. Colleen Sinclair

Klout, la medición de la influencia digital

by Javier Serrano Puche

Published in 'Perspectivas del mundo de la comunicación', nº 68, enero-febrero de 2012, pp. 4-5.

Klout es una herramienta web que evalúa la influencia de una persona o marca a través de la monitorización de su uso... more Klout es una herramienta web que evalúa la influencia de una persona o marca a través de la monitorización de su uso de las redes sociales. Su éxito demuestra la creciente importancia de detectar quiénes son los líderes de opinión en el ámbito digital

On Measurement of Influence in Social Networks

by behnam hajian

behnam hajian, Tony White

Abstract-One of the issues to be resolved in social recommender
systems is the identification of opinion leaders... more Abstract-One of the issues to be resolved in social recommender
systems is the identification of opinion leaders in
a network. Finding effective people in societies has been a
key question for many groups; e.g., marketers. The research
undertaken in this paper focuses on finding important nodes in
a network based on their behaviour as well as the structure of the
network. This paper views the propagation of information in a
social network as a process of infection. The paper proposes
an algorithm called the Probability Propagation Method for
measuring the probability of infection of all the nodes in a
network starting from a given node in the network. Then,
assuming independence in activation of nodes in a network,
a method is proposed for ranking nodes according to their
capabilities in infecting a larger number of nodes in a network.
These methods are validated using simulation software in which
a non-deterministic model of information diffusion is simulated
on several classes of network.

Keywords: Modeling Influence, Social Network, Measuring Influence, Markov Chain Model, Propagation.

Limits of Social Influence on Giving: Who is Affected When and Why?

by Rene Bekkers

Working paper presented at a seminar “Social Effects on Giving“, 24 February 2012, Royal Over-seas League, London. http://www.bris.ac.uk/cmpo/events/2012/charitablegiving/

In this paper I present evidence from tax records and three large scale field experiments testing social influence... more In this paper I present evidence from tax records and three large scale field experiments testing social influence effects on giving in the Netherlands. The experiments are conducted among
university alumni (n=6,672) and among large random samples of the Dutch population (n=1,474; n=1,765). Also tax records are used to test peer effects among a very large random sample
(n=172,947) of citizens in the Netherlands. The experiments show evidence for positive but weak social information effects on small donations. Social information effects are stronger in
conditions in which people are actively imagining what others are giving. The tax records show that amounts donated by high level donors (exceeding 1% of income) are strongly sensitive to
changes in the tax price as well as to changes in giving by other high level donors in the area of residence.

D.B. Tindall, Howard Harshaw, and J.M. Taylor. 2011. “The Effects of Social Network Ties on the Public's Satisfaction with Forest Management in British Columbia, Canada.” Pp. 147-179 in Örjan Bodin and Christina Prell (editors), Social Networks and Natural Resource Management: Uncovering the Social Fabric of Environmental Governance. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

by David Tindall

The objective of this chapter is to examine the effects of personal network ties on people’s satisfaction with forest... more The objective of this chapter is to examine the effects of personal network ties on people’s satisfaction with forest management.  More specifically, it will examine whether having ties to environmentalists, and to forestry professionals is associated with one’s level of satisfaction with forest management. Our findings demonstrate that there are effects for weak ties and strong ties to environmentalists on the public’s satisfaction with forest management.  However, there were no corresponding statistically significant effects for ties to forestry professionals.  This suggests that regarding the subject of satisfaction with forestry, environmentalists are more influential than foresters are.

Trends Prediction Using Social Diffusion Models

by Yaniv Altshuler

The importance of the ability to predict trends in social media has been growing rapidly in the past few years with... more The importance of the ability to predict trends in social media has been growing rapidly in the past few years with the growing dominance of social media in our everyday's life. Whereas many works focus on the detection of anomalies in networks, there exist little theoretical work on the prediction of the likelihood of anomalous network pattern to globally spread and become ``trends''.
In this work we present an analytic model for the social diffusion dynamics of spreading network patterns. Our proposed method is based on information diffusion models, and is capable of predicting future trends based on the analysis of past social interactions between the community's members.
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We present an analytic lower bound for the probability that emerging trends would successfully spread through the network. We demonstrate our model using two comprehensive social datasets --- the \emph{Friends and Family} experiment that was held in MIT for over a year, where the complete activity of 140 users was analyzed, and a financial dataset containing the \mbox{complete} activities of over 1.5 million members of the \emph{eToro} social trading community.

Trends Prediction Using Social Diffusion Models

by Yaniv Altshuler

The importance of the ability to predict trends in social media has been growing rapidly in the past few years with... more The importance of the ability to predict trends in social media has been growing rapidly in the past few years with the growing dominance of social media in our everyday's life. Whereas many works focus on the detection of anomalies in networks, there exist little theoretical work on the prediction of the likelihood of anomalous network pattern to globally spread and become ``trends''.
In this work we present an analytic model for the social diffusion dynamics of spreading network patterns. Our proposed method is based on information diffusion models, and is capable of predicting future trends based on the analysis of past social interactions between the community's members.
%
We present an analytic lower bound for the probability that emerging trends would successfully spread through the network. We demonstrate our model using two comprehensive social datasets --- the \emph{Friends and Family} experiment that was held in MIT for over a year, where the complete activity of 140 users was analyzed, and a financial dataset containing the \mbox{complete} activities of over 1.5 million members of the \emph{eToro} social trading community.

Suicide Bombings, weddings, and prison tattoos: An evolutionary perspective on subjective commitment and objective commitment

by Katinka Quintelier

Fessler D.M.T., Quintelier K. (in press). Suicide Bombings, weddings, and prison tattoos: An evolutionary perspective on subjective commitment and objective commitment. In Cooperation and its Evolution, Vol. 2: Agents and Mechanisms, K. Sterelny, R. Joyce, B. Calcott, and B. Fraser, Eds. MIT Press.

Structures of influence and cooperation‐conflict

by Jeffrey Hart

published in International Interactions, 1 (1974), 141-62.

Social consensus through the influence of committed minorities

by tennic x

We show how the prevailing majority opinion in a population can be rapidly reversed by a small fraction p of randomly... more We show how the prevailing majority opinion in a population can be rapidly reversed by a small fraction p of randomly distributed committed agents who consistently proselytize the opposing opinion and are immune to influence. Specifically, we show that when the committed fraction grows beyond a critical value p_c \approx 10%, there is a dramatic decrease in the time, T_c, taken for the entire population to adopt the committed opinion. In particular, for complete graphs we show that when p < p_c, T_c \sim \exp(\alpha(p)N), while for p > p_c, T_c \sim \ln N. We conclude with simulation results for Erd\H{o}s-R\'enyi random graphs and scale-free networks which show qualitatively similar behavior.

Remembering in conversations: The social sharing and reshaping of memory (Annual Review of Psychology)

by Alin Coman

People constantly talk about past experiences. Burgeoning psychologi- cal research has examined the role of... more People constantly talk about past experiences. Burgeoning psychologi- cal research has examined the role of communication in remembering by placing rememberers in conversational settings. In reviewing this work, we first discuss the benefits of collaborative remembering (trans- active memory and collaborative facilitation) and its costs (collaborative inhibition, information sampling biases, and audience tuning). We next examine how conversational remembering affects subsequent memory. Here, we address influences on listeners’ memory through social conta- gion, resistance to such influences, and then retrieval/reexposure effects on either speaker or listener, with a focus on retrieval-induced forget- ting. Extending the perspective beyond single interactions, we consider work that has explored how the above effects can spread across networks of several individuals. We also explore how a speaker’s motive to form a shared reality with listeners can moderate conversational effects on memory. Finally, we discuss how these various conversational effects may promote the formation of collective memories.

Attitude change in face‐to‐face and computer‐mediated communication: private self‐awareness as mediator and moderator

by Kai Sassenberg

Sassenberg, K., Boos, M., & Rabung, S. (2005). Attitude change in face to face and computer-mediated communication: Private self-awareness as mediator and moderator. European Journal of Social Psychology, 35, 361-374.

Two types of social influence can be distinguished: norm-based influence occurs when social identity is salient and... more Two types of social influence can be distinguished: norm-based influence occurs when social identity is salient and interpersonal influence occurs when personal identity is salient. In two experiments the impact of trait and state private self-awareness on interpersonal influence during face-to-face and computer-mediated communication (CMC) was investigated. It is argued that interpersonal influence resulting from face-to-face communication is stronger than interpersonal influence resulting from CMC because CMC heightens state private self-awareness. As a result, it leads to a focus on personal perceptions and thoughts which in turn reduces attitude change. Experiment 1 suggests that communication media may influence attitude change via private self-awareness. Experiment 2 showed that trait private self-awareness moderates the effect of communication media on interpersonal influence. Interpersonal influence was stronger in face-to-face communication than in CMC only for individuals higher in private self-awareness. This finding indicates that the impact of situational variations of a concept can be limited to individuals who have a more elevated sense of private self-awareness.

Attitude change in computer-mediated communication: Effects of anonymity and category norms

by Kai Sassenberg

Sassenberg, K., & Boos, M. (2003). Attitude change in computer-mediated communication: Effects of anonymity and category norms. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 6, 405-422

The current research compared the effect of computer-mediated communication (CMC) and direct communication on attitude... more The current research compared the effect of computer-mediated communication (CMC) and direct communication on attitude change. The social identity model of deindividuation effects (Spears & Lea, 1994) predicts that CMC results in behavior that is more in line with the salient level of self-categorization (compared to non-anonymous communication): in CMC salient social identity should lead to conformity to group norms whereas salient personal identity was expected to result in behavior that fits individual goals. Two experiments with 81 and 72 undergraduates respectively, showed that when personal identity was salient and when social identity was salient and a category norm was explicitly given, CMC led to the predicted effects, whereas the lack of a social category norm led to lower attitude change in CMC compared to direct communication.

Attitude change in face‐to‐face and computer‐mediated communication: private self‐awareness as mediator and moderator

by Kai Sassenberg

Sassenberg, K., Boos, M., & Rabung, S. (2005). Attitude change in face to face and computer-mediated communication: Private self-awareness as mediator and moderator. European Journal of Social Psychology, 35, 361-374.

Two types of social influence can be distinguished: norm-based influence occurs when social identity is salient and... more Two types of social influence can be distinguished: norm-based influence occurs when social identity is salient and interpersonal influence occurs when personal identity is salient. In two experiments the impact of trait and state private self-awareness on interpersonal influence during face-to-face and computer-mediated communication (CMC) was investigated. It is argued that interpersonal influence resulting from face-to-face communication is stronger than interpersonal influence resulting from CMC because CMC heightens state private self-awareness. As a result, it leads to a focus on personal perceptions and thoughts which in turn reduces attitude change. Experiment 1 suggests that communication media may influence attitude change via private self-awareness. Experiment 2 showed that trait private self-awareness moderates the effect of communication media on interpersonal influence. Interpersonal influence was stronger in face-to-face communication than in CMC only for individuals higher in private self-awareness. This finding indicates that the impact of situational variations of a concept can be limited to individuals who have a more elevated sense of private self-awareness.

Attitude change in computer-mediated communication: Effects of anonymity and category norms

by Kai Sassenberg

Sassenberg, K., & Boos, M. (2003). Attitude change in computer-mediated communication: Effects of anonymity and category norms. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 6, 405-422

The current research compared the effect of computer-mediated communication (CMC) and direct communication on attitude... more The current research compared the effect of computer-mediated communication (CMC) and direct communication on attitude change. The social identity model of deindividuation effects (Spears & Lea, 1994) predicts that CMC results in behavior that is more in line with the salient level of self-categorization (compared to non-anonymous communication): in CMC salient social identity should lead to conformity to group norms whereas salient personal identity was expected to result in behavior that fits individual goals. Two experiments with 81 and 72 undergraduates respectively, showed that when personal identity was salient and when social identity was salient and a category norm was explicitly given, CMC led to the predicted effects, whereas the lack of a social category norm led to lower attitude change in CMC compared to direct communication.

Cognitive and strategic processes in small groups: Effects of anonymity of the self and anonymity of the group on social influence

by Kai Sassenberg

Sassenberg, K., & Postmes, T. (2002). Cognitive and strategic processes in small groups: Effects of anonymity of the self and anonymity of the group on social influence. British Journal of Social Psychology, 41, 463-480.

Two studies examined cognitive and strategic processes of social influence in small groups. A first study showed that... more Two studies examined cognitive and strategic processes of social influence in small groups. A first study showed that anonymity of in-group members to the self cognitively enhanced the perceived unity or entitativity of the group, while the interpersonal attraction to group members decreased. A second study showed that anonymity of the self to the group strategically enhanced differentiation from the group on non-normative dimensions. Overall, it was found that strategic and cognitive processes interact to produce social influence within the group. Implications for theories of social influence in groups are discussed.

Communication and the construction of knowledge or transmission of belief: The role of conversation type and behavioral style

by Charis Psaltis

Psaltis, C. (2005). Communication and the construction of knowledge or transmission of belief:  The role of conversation type and behavioral style. Studies in Communication Sciences, 5, 209-228.

In this paper it is proposed that a central topic of inquiry in the study of social knowledge should be the... more In this paper it is proposed that a central topic of inquiry in the study of social knowledge should be the clarification of the conditions of communication that are likely to lead to the attainment of knowledge rather than to the transmission of belief. Insights and empirical evidence from social developmental psychology are presented that shed light on this issue. It is argued that social relations established between the partners in communication in the form of different conversation types are differentially linked to representations of an object based on the construction of new knowledge or transmission of beliefs. A central mechanism that constrains or enables the establishment of particular conversation types is social recognition, as this is manifested in different behavioural styles in communication.

Brought into the Fold: Influence and Persuasion in a Conversional Religious Setting

by Daniel Martin

Martin, D.E. (2000). Brought into the Fold: Influence and Persuasion in a Conversional Religious Setting. Skeptic Vol. 8 No. 2, 56

This study explored the use of influence techniques upon introduction of individuals to a conversional religion (The... more This study explored the use of influence techniques upon introduction of individuals to a conversional religion (The Church of Scientology). The researcher used the Participatory Research paradigm to investigate four aspects of influence (liking, social proof, authority and reciprocation, Cialdini, 1994) in an overriding Elaboration Likelihood Model (Petty, R., Cacioppo, J., 1986) framework. Findings supported hypothesis of use of influence techniques for the financial benefit of the organization. The implications of these findings for the future studies of influence were discussed.