Diffusion and Contagion

Dad Joke

Interviewer: “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”

Me: “Listening. I would say listening is my biggest weakness.”

Housekeeping

• Self-assessment reflections due today
  • In-person feedback; sign up for spot on my calendar in November
• Wisdom or Madness of Crowds simulation + R on Thursday

Upcoming Assignments

• Exam
  • Submit two multiple choice or short answer questions by next week
• Visualization Challenge due next week

Example questions

• What is a “multiplex” (or multidimensional) network?
  • A network where there are multiple types of nodes
  • A network with high centralization
  • A network with a high clustering coefficient
  • A network with multiple types of edges
• Give an example of how social capital can be exchanged for economic capital.

Plan for today

• Diffusion and contagion review
• Discussion questions

Review Questions

• What are some things that are diffused through a social network?
• What is the difference between simple contagion and complex contagion?

Simple Contagion

Complex Contagion

Review Questions

• What is an example of simple contagion?
• What is an example of something that spreads via complex contagion?
• What was the argument of the “Special People” chapter?

Discussion Questions

Wisdom / Madness of Crowds

• How does the majority illusion work?
• How does this related to the spiral of silence?
• Why is it tough to spread information across bridges?
• What is the role of people who aren’t easily influenced in contagions?