Human-machine networks pervade much of contemporary life. Network change is
the product of structural modifications along with differences in participant
be-havior. If we assume that behavioural change in a human-machine network is
the result of changing the attitudes of participants in the network, then the
question arises whether network structure can affect participant attitude.
Taking citizen par-ticipation as an example, engagement with relevant
stakeholders reveals trust and motivation to be the major objectives for the
network. Using a typology to de-scribe network state based on multiple
characteristic or dimensions, we can pre-dict possible behavioural outcomes in
the network. However, this has to be medi-ated via attitude change. Motivation
for the citizen participation network can only increase in line with enhanced
trust. The focus for changing network dynamics, therefore, shifts to the
dimensional changes needed to encourage increased trust. It turns out that the
coordinated manipulation of multiple dimensions is needed to bring about the
desired shift in attitude.Comment: Paper submitted to SocInfo, organised by the Oxford Internet
Institute, September 201
