8 pages, Public perception about the reality of climate change has remained polarized and propagation of fake information on social media can be a potential cause. Homophily in communication, the tendency of people to communicate with others having similar beliefs, is understood to lead to the formation of echo chambers which reinforce individual beliefs and fuel further increase in polarization. Quite surprisingly, in an empirical analysis of the effect of homophily in communication on the level of polarization using evidence from Twitter conversations on the climate change topic during 2007–2017, we find that evolution of homophily over time negatively affects the evolution of polarization in the long run. Among various information about climate change to which people are exposed to, they are more likely to be influenced by information that have higher credibility. Therefore, we study a model of polarization of beliefs in social networks that accounts for credibility of propagating information in addition to homophily in communication. We find that polarization can not increase with increase in homophily in communication unless information propagating fake beliefs has minimal credibility. We therefore infer from the empirical results that anti-climate change tweets are largely not credible.
Gallagher, Thomas (author), Noland, Laura J. (author), and Noland: B.S. Recipient, Division of Resource Management, School of Agriculture and Land Resources Management, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK; Gallagher: Assistant Professor of Land Planning, Division of Resource Management, School of Agriculture and Land Resources Management, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1989
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 84 Document Number: C05382
Fewster, Jean W. (author), Kuhonta, Cleofe M. (author), and Fewster: Human Resources, Institutions and Agrarian Reform Division, The Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations, Rome, Italy; Kuhonta: Communication specialist, Rome, Italy
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1985
Published:
Canada
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 84 Document Number: C05312
AGRICOLA FNI 85008260, Extract: Communicating more effectively with rural women in developing countries can help accelerate the acceptance of change. These women are and have been deprived of the information they need for problem-solving and for evaluating options before making decisions. They need information that responds to their multiple roles as parents, partners, and food producers. They need networks to link them with other women. A model of the communication process is presented, showing the variables that interact and influence communication. Attention is directed to the need to identify and differentiate audience groups, to provide information that is situationally relevant and easy to comprehend, and to use an appropriate combination of interpersonal, group and mass communication. Integrating a communication component into programs and projects is recommended. (author).
