Conformity in Scientific Networks

TL;DR

This paper investigates how social conformity influences scientific communities, revealing that conformity can hinder accurate consensus and lead to polarization, with outcomes affected by network structure.

Contribution

It introduces a network epistemology model showing how conformity impacts belief dynamics and consensus formation in scientific networks.

Findings

Conformity can cause stable polarization in beliefs and actions.

Network structure significantly influences conformity effects.

Conformity generally impairs communities' ability to reach accurate consensus.

Abstract

Scientists are generally subject to social pressures, including pressures to conform with others in their communities, that affect achievement of their epistemic goals. Here we analyze a network epistemology model in which agents, all else being equal, prefer to take actions that conform with those of their neighbors. This preference for conformity interacts with the agents' beliefs about which of two (or more) possible actions yields the better outcome. We find a range of possible outcomes, including stable polarization in belief and action. The model results are sensitive to network structure. In general, though, conformity has a negative effect on a community's ability to reach accurate consensus about the world.