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Science of "Echo Chambers"

posted by cmn32480 on Thursday May 28 2015, @03:18AM   Printer-friendly
from the hello-hello-hello dept.

aristarchus writes:

Oft times we see accusations of "group think" here on SoylentNews. Now there is some actual science on the formation and function of "echo chambers", as reported by SESYNC:

A new study from researchers at the University of Maryland (UMD) and the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) demonstrates that the highly contentious debate on climate change is fueled in part by how information flows throughout policy networks.
...
"Our research shows how the echo chamber can block progress toward a political resolution on climate change. Individuals who get their information from the same sources with the same perspective may be under the impression that theirs is the dominant perspective, regardless of what the science says," said Dr. Dana R. Fisher, a professor of sociology at UMD and corresponding author who led the research.

I would guess, based on this study abstract (actual paper unfortunately behind paywall), that SoylentNews is in no danger of becoming an echo chamber, but we seem to have some refugees who are still stuck in particular bubbles.

 
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  • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Thursday May 28 2015, @03:05PM

    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Thursday May 28 2015, @03:05PM (#189107) Homepage Journal

    Wonder if the moneky theory bears any relationship to the size of a person's bubble. A person who is comfortable with a small circle of friends, as opposed to someone who knows EVERYONE would have a smaller bubble?

    If that be the case, I guess I'm in a pretty small bubble. I long ago gave up trying to remember the names of all the people at work. I just don't even try. There are to many, and turnover is to rapid - instead of trying to remember names, I just smile and say "Hi".

    Or, maybe it has nothing to do with the size of the bubble, maybe it determines what kind of bubble you're in.

    Ehhhh - this shit could get to deep for me real quick! Do me a favor, and write a science fiction adventure about it.

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  • (Score: 2) by Mr Big in the Pants on Thursday May 28 2015, @08:07PM

    by Mr Big in the Pants (4956) on Thursday May 28 2015, @08:07PM (#189289)

    I would imagine so. But that is only over a set of specific dimensions.

    Bubbles are not a single set or even easily definable.