In this paper, we establish a new version of Ekeland’s variational principle in a new setting of cone pseudo-quasimetric spaces. In constrast to metric spaces, we do not require that each forward Cauchy sequence is forward convergent and that each forward convergent sequence has the unique forward limit. The motivation of this paper comes from applications in Behavioral Sciences since a cone ps...

Public online groups allow individuals to carry out conversations of common interests. Study of such group conversations provides a unique opportunity to study patterns of human conversations without violating individual privacy. The observational studies conducted in this paper are an attempt to identify the main correlates of continued growth of conversations, thereby clearing the path to dev...

Birds, fish, and many other animals travel as a flock, school, or herd. Animals in these groups must remain in close proximity while avoiding collisions with neighbors and with obstacles. We would like to reproduce this behavior for groups of simulated creatures traveling fast enough that dynamics plays a significant role in determining their movement. In this paper, we describe an algorithm fo...

Despite the many works on contagion phenomena in both well-mixed systems and heterogeneous networks, there is still a lack of understanding of the intermediate regime where social group structures evolve on a similar time scale to individual-level transmission. We address this question by considering the process of transmission through a model population comprising social groups which follow si...

This article reports on the development of a scale used to assess and measure group dynamics during group supervision counselling courses (practicum and internship). A 20-item Likert-type scale was administered to 200 counsellors-in-training master’s students. Reliability and validity data are described. An exploratory factor analysis yielded three factors that accounted for 64.4% of the varian...

We present a dynamic model of endogenous interest group sizes and policymaking. The model integrates ‘top-down’ (policy) and ‘bottom-up’ (individual and social-structural) influences on the development of interest groups. Comparative statics results show that the standard assumption of fixed-sized interest groups can be misleading. Furthermore, dynamic analysis of the model demonstrates that re...

How can we understand the interaction between the social network topology of a population and the patterns of group affiliation in that population? Each aspect influences the other: social networks provide the conduits via which groups recruit new members and groups provide the context in which new social ties are formed. Given that the resources of individuals are finite, groups can be conside...

The analysis of conversational dynamics in small groups, like the one illustrated in Figure 1.1, is a fundamental area in social psychology and nonverbal communication [Goodwin, 1981, Clark and Carlson, 1982]. Conversational patterns exist at multiple time scales, ranging from knowing how and when to address or interrupt somebody, how to gain or hold the floor of a conversation, and how to make...

This paper examines the relationship between Dascyllus aruanus and Pomacentrus moluccensis, two species of damselfish which commonly form mixed colonies on the reef flat of Heron Island, in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. D. aruanus, commonly known as the Humbug Damselfish, has been extensively studied. They defend their territory (consisting of branched coral) and form both conspecific and bis...