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Cognitive Maps of Complex Systems Show Hierarchical Structure and Scale-Free Properties (2006)
BibTeX
@MISC{06cognitivemaps,
author = {},
title = {Cognitive Maps of Complex Systems Show Hierarchical Structure and Scale-Free Properties},
year = {2006}
}
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Abstract
Many networks in natural and human-made systems exhibit scale-free properties and are small worlds. Now we show that people’s understanding of complex systems in their cognitive maps also follow a scale-free topology (Pk = k −λ, λ ∈ [1.24, 3.03]; r 2 ≥ 0.95). People focus on a few attributes, as indicated by a fat tail in the probability distribution of total degree. These few attributes are related with many other variables in the system. Many more attributes have very few connections. The scale-free properties in the cognitive maps of people arise despite the fact that their average distances are not different (Wilcoxon sign-rank test, W = 78, p = 0.75) than random networks of the same size and connection density. The scale-free property manifests itself in the higher hierarchical structure compared to random networks (Wilcoxon sign-rank test, W = 12, p = 0.03). People use relatively short explanations to describe systems. These findings may help us to better understand people’s perceptions, especially when it comes to decision-making, conflict resolution, politics and management. In nature many networks from protein interaction (1) to metabolism (2) show scale-free properties. In human systems scale-free properties have been observed in the world-wide web (3), the internet (4), linguistics (5), sexual contacts (6), movie actor collaboration (7), and scientific collaboration (8). Here we show that people’s perceptions of complex systems, such as ecosystems, also obey power laws.
Keyphrases
scale-free property cognitive map complex system show hierarchical structure complex system wilcoxon sign-rank test world-wide web scale-free topology movie actor collaboration understand people conflict resolution probability distribution average distance random network many variable connection density nature many network fat tail protein interaction people focus short explanation total degree obey power law scale-free property manifest human-made system small world show scale-free property human system scale-free property scientific collaboration hierarchical structure sexual contact many network
