Grey relational analysis- and clustering-based opinion dynamics model in social network group decision making (Q6095655)

This paper presents the grey relational analysis and clustering based opinion dynamics model in social network group decision making. The paper proposes a method to determine the self-confidence value based upon social matrix and graph theory to make social network analysis more scientific and reasonable. The exponential operator is used to examine the efficiency of trust propagation in social network analysis. The exponential operator can assign lower weights to trust paths with many intermediaries and low propagation efficiency. The selection of clustering centers is improved to select the authoritative individual. An identification mechanism based upon grey relational analysis is defined to determine the authoritative subgroup. Some numerical examples are provided to illustrate the theoretical prediction.