Rumor

From Wikinfo

Rumor, British, rumour, is information that is passed-on without substantiating evidence. Rumors can range from simple gossip to advanced propaganda techniques.

The classic mode of rumor transmission is person-to-person, as in gossip. Rumor spread among a population by the principles of social epidemic, by social contagion though a social network with a central role played by nodes with many social connections or links.

With the advent of the internet many rumors have been transmitted via email, as is the case with various hoaxes and urban legends.

Further Reading

• Gordon Willard Allport and Leo Postman, Psychology of Rumor, Russell & Russell, 1965, hardcover, ISBN 0846205645

References

• Adapted from the Wikipedia article, "Rumor" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumor November 18, 2003