A prior paper contributed to by Ms. Flack (https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1406/1406.7720.pdf) presents a framework for modeling the dynamics between individuals - I would assume that is the abstract "social coordinate space" to which she's referring, which places individuals within "Markovian, probabilistic, 'social' circuits" rather than into some Euclidean space.
And Ms. Flack, though her research interests extend beyond the realm of what is traditionally considered hard science, is most certainly a scientist - an evolutionary biologist specifically.
I assume you are linking to her LinkedIn profile to point out her "Doctor of Philosophy" degree? That's just the full, formal name for a PhD :P
Just to get the full quote from original article: “their metric space is a social coordinate space. It’s not Euclidean.”
If the space being considered is a probability space like you say, then there is no metric, there is a measure.
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Why am I so pedantic?
Because I feel that the liberal arts mindset of writing is not serious enough for subjects where there is a ground truth to uncover.
In the article you link, where is the empirical study that compares how this model predicts reality?
I wish that people who publish on SIAMS, or ASA, AMS, IEEE affiliated journals were the ones trending on HN, and getting interviewed by journalists. A pessimist would say those people are too busy with their work for publicity, and that an empty barrel echoes loudest.
And Ms. Flack, though her research interests extend beyond the realm of what is traditionally considered hard science, is most certainly a scientist - an evolutionary biologist specifically.
I assume you are linking to her LinkedIn profile to point out her "Doctor of Philosophy" degree? That's just the full, formal name for a PhD :P