OPINION FORMATION IN SOCIAL NETWORKS

A number of selected works on the dynamics of opinions and beliefs in social networks has been discussed. Both Bayesian and non-Bayesian approaches to social learning have been considered, but the analysis has been focused on a simple, tractable and widely used model of updating beliefs – the DeGroot model. The author studied the dynamics of opinions based on the DeGroot model from different points of view. First, its attractive features and shortcomings were discussed and then some of its extensions have been presented. These models are based on the DeGroot updating rule, but additionally incorporate the possibility of improvements and enrichments of the framework.