Person-to-person opinion dynamics: an empirical study using an online game

TL;DR

This paper empirically tests the Martins opinion dynamics model through an online game experiment, providing verifiable insights into how individuals exchange opinions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel experimental method to verify the Martins model, advancing empirical research in opinion dynamics.

Findings

Validated the Martins model through experimental data

Developed a new experimental design for opinion exchange studies

Provided insights into controllable parameters in opinion dynamics

Abstract

A model needs to make verifiable predictions to have any scientific value. In opinion dynamics, the study of how individuals exchange opinions with one another, there are many theoretical models which attempt to model opinion exchange, one of which is the Martins model, which differs from other models by using a parameter that is easier to control for in an experiment. In this paper, we have designed an experiment to verify the Martins model and contribute to the experimental design in opinion dynamic with our novel method.