Effects of attachment preferences on coevolution of opinions and networks

In the coevolution of network structures and opinion formation, we investigate the effects of a mixed population with distinctive relinking preferences on both the convergence time and the network structures. It has been found that a heterogeneous network structure is easier to be reached with more high-degree-preferential (HOP) nodes. There exists high correlation between the convergence time and the network heterogeneity. The heterogeneous degree distribution caused by preferential attachment accelerates the convergence to a consensus state and the shortened convergence time inhibits the occurrence of the following disquieting situation that occurs in a continuously evolving network: with preferential attachment and long-time evolvement, most of the nodes would become separated and only a few leaders would have immediate neighbors. Analytical calculations based on mean field theory reveal that both the transition point p(tr) and the consensus time tau depend upon the standard deviation of the degree distribution sigma(d). p(tr) increases while tau decreases with the rise of sigma(d). Functions of p(tr) = < k >/(< k > + 1) and tau = a(N)K/(sigma(2)(d) - K) are found. Theoretical analyses are in accordance with simulation data. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.