Abstract

In this work; three specific dynamical systems models, the Basic, Maki-Thompson, and Daley-Kendall, are used to model rumor transmission on social networks. Rumor flow is a measure of the time it takes for the rumor to completely pass through a specified network. Comparisons between random social networks and a small world social networks yield the faster transmission of a rumor over a small world network.

Using unique adjacency matrices that define our random networks, observations of some characteristics of the random networks will be made that are specific to this type of graph. Differences in the constructs of the two networks will be illustrated by comparing these properties to those of the small world networks (created by a certain rewiring scheme of a k-regular network). Interesting comparisons are to be made about the networks' defining characteristics include average clustering coefficients, centrality measures, and average path lengths. The flow of a rumor through each type of network reveals the characteristics of the network. A rumor will clearly flow through a small world network faster than in a random network, mainly due to higher density, increased clustering and better defined centrality.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Rumor--Mathematical models; Social networks--Mathematical models

Publication Date

11-2006

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Applied and Computational Mathematics (MS)

Department, Program, or Center

School of Mathematical Sciences (COS)

Advisor

Bernard Brooks

Advisor/Committee Member

Nicholas DiFonzo

Advisor/Committee Member

Hossein Shahmohamad

Comments

Physical copy available from RIT's Wallace Library at HM1241 .O55 2006

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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