Summary
In this project I propose to study opinion dynamics in social networks and groups. In particular, I will ask how opinion dynamics contribute to shape social identity and how, conversely, social identity affects communication. I also ask whether and when social identity is a barrier to communication, when “opinion bubbles” are created and when and how “fake news” can spread. The types of social identity I consider include social class, ethnicity and gender. The project consists of four subprojects.
The first subproject [A] focuses on communication between social classes and inequality. The subproject asks how opinion dynamics contribute to diverging experiences, core behaviours and values that go much beyond income inequality. I will first document this divergence by conducting experiments in a representative sample of the UK population via the UK Household panel and then conduct lab experiments to study opinion dynamics and the conditions under which “opinion bubbles” arise in more detail.
Subproject [B] focuses on gender bias in committees. A large body of empirical evidence has documented gender biases in decisions, such as hiring, promotion, or performance evaluations. Many of these decisions involve communication and deliberation among committee members. Nevertheless the role of opinion dynamics in committees in creating or amplifying gender bias has not been explored. Subproject [B] aims to fill this gap.
Subproject [C] will focus on how perceived uncertainty contributes to the spread of discriminatory attitudes with a particular focus on ethnic discrimination. Subproject [C] will be conducted both using a representative sample of the UK population via the Innovation Panel of Understanding Society, the UK Household panel as well as lab experiments.
The last subproject [D] will use lab experiments to study under which conditions opinion dynamics can become vulnerable to “fake news”.
The first subproject [A] focuses on communication between social classes and inequality. The subproject asks how opinion dynamics contribute to diverging experiences, core behaviours and values that go much beyond income inequality. I will first document this divergence by conducting experiments in a representative sample of the UK population via the UK Household panel and then conduct lab experiments to study opinion dynamics and the conditions under which “opinion bubbles” arise in more detail.
Subproject [B] focuses on gender bias in committees. A large body of empirical evidence has documented gender biases in decisions, such as hiring, promotion, or performance evaluations. Many of these decisions involve communication and deliberation among committee members. Nevertheless the role of opinion dynamics in committees in creating or amplifying gender bias has not been explored. Subproject [B] aims to fill this gap.
Subproject [C] will focus on how perceived uncertainty contributes to the spread of discriminatory attitudes with a particular focus on ethnic discrimination. Subproject [C] will be conducted both using a representative sample of the UK population via the Innovation Panel of Understanding Society, the UK Household panel as well as lab experiments.
The last subproject [D] will use lab experiments to study under which conditions opinion dynamics can become vulnerable to “fake news”.
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More information & hyperlinks
| Web resources: | https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/805017 |
| Start date: | 01-12-2018 |
| End date: | 31-05-2023 |
| Total budget - Public funding: | 830 623,00 Euro - 830 623,00 Euro |
Cordis data
Original description
In this project I propose to study opinion dynamics in social networks and groups. In particular, I will ask how opinion dynamics contribute to shape social identity and how, conversely, social identity affects communication. I also ask whether and when social identity is a barrier to communication, when “opinion bubbles” are created and when and how “fake news” can spread. The types of social identity I consider include social class, ethnicity and gender. The project consists of four subprojects.The first subproject [A] focuses on communication between social classes and inequality. The subproject asks how opinion dynamics contribute to diverging experiences, core behaviours and values that go much beyond income inequality. I will first document this divergence by conducting experiments in a representative sample of the UK population via the UK Household panel and then conduct lab experiments to study opinion dynamics and the conditions under which “opinion bubbles” arise in more detail.
Subproject [B] focuses on gender bias in committees. A large body of empirical evidence has documented gender biases in decisions, such as hiring, promotion, or performance evaluations. Many of these decisions involve communication and deliberation among committee members. Nevertheless the role of opinion dynamics in committees in creating or amplifying gender bias has not been explored. Subproject [B] aims to fill this gap.
Subproject [C] will focus on how perceived uncertainty contributes to the spread of discriminatory attitudes with a particular focus on ethnic discrimination. Subproject [C] will be conducted both using a representative sample of the UK population via the Innovation Panel of Understanding Society, the UK Household panel as well as lab experiments.
The last subproject [D] will use lab experiments to study under which conditions opinion dynamics can become vulnerable to “fake news”.
Status
CLOSEDCall topic
ERC-2018-STGUpdate Date
27-04-2024
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