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Modeling Belief Divergence and Opinion Polarization with Bayesian Networks and Agent-Based Simulation

A Study on Traditional Healing Use in South Africa

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Book cover Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Modeling (SBP-BRiMS 2019)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 11549))

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Abstract

This study uses agent-based simulation with human settlement patterns to model belief revision and information exchange about health care options. We adopt two recent microeconomic theories based on Bayesian Network formulations for individual belief update then examine the macro-level effects of the belief revision process. This model tries to explain traditional healing usage at the village and regional level while providing a causal mechanism with a single conceptual factor, mobility, at the individual level. The resulting simulation estimates the dependency on traditional healing in villages in Limpopo, South Africa, and the estimates are validated with empirical data.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by UVA’s Center for Global Health, the Harrison Research Award, and the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. We would also like to show our deepest gratitude to the University of Venda for its partnership, hospitality and support. We especially thank the coordinators/interpreters/translators for our field study in Limpopo: Livhuwani Daphney, Mphatheleni Makaulule, Faith Musvipwa, Rendani Nematswerani, Phathutshedzo Nevhutalu, and Wisani Nwankoti.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA

    Kamwoo Lee & Jeanine Braithwaite

Authors
  1. Kamwoo Lee
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  2. Jeanine Braithwaite
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Correspondence to Kamwoo Lee .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. United States Military Academy, West Point, NY, USA

    Robert Thomson

  2. University of Michigan–Flint, Flint, MI, USA

    Halil Bisgin

  3. Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA, USA

    Christopher Dancy

  4. The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Ayaz Hyder

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Lee, K., Braithwaite, J. (2019). Modeling Belief Divergence and Opinion Polarization with Bayesian Networks and Agent-Based Simulation. In: Thomson, R., Bisgin, H., Dancy, C., Hyder, A. (eds) Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Modeling. SBP-BRiMS 2019. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 11549. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21741-9_28

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21741-9_28

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-21740-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-21741-9

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

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