Fuzzy Opinion Networks: A Mathematical Framework for the Evolution of Opinions and Their Uncertainties Across Social Networks

• Published in: IEEE transactions on fuzzy systems Vol. 24; no. 4; pp. 880 - 905
• Main Authors: Li-Xin Wang, Mendel, Jerry M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.08.2016; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Bayes methods; Delays; Fuzzy sets; Mathematical model; Network theory (graphs); opinion dynamics; social networks; Standard deviation; Uncertainty
• ISSN: 1063-6706; 1941-0034
• DOI: 10.1109/TFUZZ.2015.2486816

We propose a new mathematical framework for the evolution and propagation of opinions, called fuzzy opinion network, which is the connection of a number of Gaussian nodes, possibly through some weighted average, time delay, or logic operators, where a Gaussian node is a Gaussian fuzzy set with the center and the standard deviation being the node inputs and the fuzzy set itself being the node output. In this framework, an opinion is modeled as a Gaussian fuzzy set with the center representing the opinion itself and the standard deviation characterizing the uncertainty about the opinion. We study the basic connections of fuzzy opinion networks, including basic center, basic standard deviation (sdv), basic center-sdv, chain-in-center, and chain-in-sdv connections, and we analyze a number of dynamic connections to show how opinions and their uncertainties propagate and evolve across different network structures and scenarios. We explain what insights we might gain from these mathematical results about the formation and evolution of human opinions.