Modeling controversy within populations

1. A system for modeling controversy within a population, the system comprising:

an interface configured to obtain information regarding stances of individuals in the population on a topic;

memory; and

a processor configured to:

determine and store in the memory a representation of contention on the topic among individuals of the population, the representation of contention being determined based on (i) the stances of individuals in the population and (ii) a measure of exclusivity between the stances, wherein the representation of contention quantifies a proportion of individuals in the population, from amongst a total number of individuals in the population, in disagreement regarding the topic;

determine and store in the memory a representation of importance of the topic within the population, the representation of importance indicating a number of individuals in the population affected by the topic; and

create and store in the memory a model of controversy for the topic based on the representation of contention on the topic and the representation of importance of the topic.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to predict whether the topic is controversial based on the model of controversy.

3. A system as in claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to determine a controversy score for the topic based on the model of controversy.

4. A system as in claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to determine contention on the topic by determining the proportion of individuals in the population, from amongst the total number of individuals in the population, that are in disagreement regarding the topic.

5. A system as in claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to determine pairs of stances that are mutually exclusive stances.

6. A system as in claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to determine contention on the topic by determining a probability that two given individuals have conflicting stances on the topic.

7. A system as in claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to determine importance of the topic by determining a probability that the topic is important to a given individual in the population.

8. A method of modeling controversy within a population, the method comprising:

determining contention on a topic among individuals of the population based on (i) stances of individuals in the population and (ii) a measure of exclusivity between the stances, the determined contention quantifying a proportion of individuals in the population, from amongst a total number of individuals in the population, in disagreement regarding the topic;

determining importance of the topic within the population, the determined importance indicating a number of individuals in the population affected by the topic; and

creating a model of controversy for the topic based on the contention on the topic and the importance of the topic.

9. A method as in claim 8 further comprising predicting whether the topic is controversial based on the model of controversy.

10. A method as in claim 8 further comprising determining a controversy score for the topic based on the model of controversy.

11. A method as in claim 8 wherein determining contention on the topic includes determining the proportion of individuals in the population, from amongst the total number of individuals in the population, that are in disagreement regarding the topic.

12. A method as in claim 8 wherein determining contention on the topic includes determining the stances that the individuals in the population have on the topic.

13. A method as in claim 12 wherein determining contention on the topic includes determining a probability that two given individuals have conflicting stances on the topic.

14. A method as in claim 8 wherein determining importance of the topic includes determining a probability that the topic is important to a given individual in the population.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program for modeling controversy within a population, the computer program comprising a routine of set instructions for causing the machine to:

determine contention on a topic among individuals of the population based on (i) stances of individuals in the population and (ii) a measure of exclusivity between the stances, the determined contention quantifying a proportion of individuals in the population, from amongst a total number of individuals in the population, in disagreement regarding the topic;

determine importance of the topic within the population, the determined importance indicating a number of individuals in the population affected by the topic; and

create a model of controversy for the topic based on the contention on the topic and the importance of the topic.

16. A machine-readable storage medium as in claim 15 further comprising instructions for causing the machine to predict whether the topic is controversial based on the model of controversy.

17. A machine-readable storage medium as in claim 15 further comprising instructions for causing the machine to determine a controversy score for the topic based on the model of controversy.

18. A machine-readable storage medium as in claim 15 further comprising instructions for causing the machine to determine contention on the topic by determining the proportion of individuals in the population, from amongst the total number of individuals in the population, in disagreement regarding the topic.

19. A machine-readable storage medium as in claim 15 further comprising instructions for causing the machine to determine contention on the topic by determining the stances that the individuals in the population have on the topic.

20. A machine-readable storage medium as in claim 19 further comprising instructions for causing the machine to determine contention on the topic by determining a probability that two given individuals have conflicting stances on the topic.