title: Information diffusion, Facebook clusters, and the simplicial model of social aggregation: a computational simulation of simplicial diffusers for community health interventions.
abstract: By integrating the simplicial model of social aggregation with existing research on opinion leadership and diffusion networks, this article introduces the constructs of simplicial diffusers (mathematically defined as nodes embedded in simplexes; a simplex is a socially bonded cluster) and simplicial diffusing sets (mathematically defined as minimal covers of a simplicial complex; a simplicial complex is a social aggregation in which socially bonded clusters are embedded) to propose a strategic approach for information diffusion of cancer screenings as a health intervention on Facebook for community cancer prevention and control. This approach is novel in its incorporation of interpersonally bonded clusters, culturally distinct subgroups, and different united social entities that coexist within a larger community into a computational simulation to select sets of simplicial diffusers with the highest degree of information diffusion for health intervention dissemination. The unique contributions of the article also include seven propositions and five algorithmic steps for computationally modeling the simplicial model with Facebook data.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Communication Studies , Chapman University.
authors.forename: Kerk F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Kee
authors.affiliation: a Department of Communication Studies , Chapman University.|b Public Health Program , University of California , Irvine.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sparks
authors.affiliation: c Schmid College of Science and Technology , Chapman University.
authors.forename: Daniele C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Struppa
authors.affiliation: d HoloMathics, LLC, and Department of Computer Science , George Mason University.
authors.forename: Mirco A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mannucci
authors.affiliation: e Mathematics-IBO Programme , Deledda International School.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Damiano
mesh_terms: D019058:Community Networks; D006293:Health Promotion; D033181:Information Dissemination; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D061108:Social Media; D060756:Social Networking