Close encounters: Analyzing how social similarity and propinquity contribute to strong network connections.
Models of network formation emphasize the importance of social similarity and propinquity in producing strong interpersonal connections. The positive effect each factor can have on tie strength has been documented across a number of studies, and yet we know surprisingly very little about how the two...
Main Author: | |
---|---|
Other Authors: | |
Format: | Article |
Language: | en_US |
Published: |
Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences
2012
|
Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/69851 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8706-3124 |
_version_ | 1811094627828105216 |
---|---|
author | Reagans, Ray Eugene |
author2 | Sloan School of Management |
author_facet | Sloan School of Management Reagans, Ray Eugene |
author_sort | Reagans, Ray Eugene |
collection | MIT |
description | Models of network formation emphasize the importance of social similarity and propinquity in producing strong interpersonal connections. The positive effect each factor can have on tie strength has been documented across a number of studies, and yet we know surprisingly very little about how the two factors combine to produce strong ties. Being in close proximity could either amplify or dampen the positive effect that social similarity can have on tie strength. Data on tie strength among teachers working in five public schools were analyzed to shed light on this theoretical question. The empirical results indicate that teachers who were similar in age were more likely to be connected by a strong tie, especially teachers for whom age similarity was more likely to be salient. Moreover, teachers who took breaks at the same time or who had classrooms on the same floor communicated more frequently and felt more emotionally attached. Among the public school teachers, propinquity amplified the positive effect that age similarity had on tie strength. The strongest network connections occurred among age-similar teachers who had classrooms on the same floor. The empirical results illustrate the value of considering how social similarity and propinquity contribute to strong ties independently and when combined with each other. |
first_indexed | 2024-09-23T16:03:02Z |
format | Article |
id | mit-1721.1/69851 |
institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
language | en_US |
last_indexed | 2024-09-23T16:03:02Z |
publishDate | 2012 |
publisher | Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences |
record_format | dspace |
spelling | mit-1721.1/698512022-10-02T05:57:01Z Close encounters: Analyzing how social similarity and propinquity contribute to strong network connections. Reagans, Ray Eugene Sloan School of Management Reagans, Ray Eugene Reagans, Ray Eugene Models of network formation emphasize the importance of social similarity and propinquity in producing strong interpersonal connections. The positive effect each factor can have on tie strength has been documented across a number of studies, and yet we know surprisingly very little about how the two factors combine to produce strong ties. Being in close proximity could either amplify or dampen the positive effect that social similarity can have on tie strength. Data on tie strength among teachers working in five public schools were analyzed to shed light on this theoretical question. The empirical results indicate that teachers who were similar in age were more likely to be connected by a strong tie, especially teachers for whom age similarity was more likely to be salient. Moreover, teachers who took breaks at the same time or who had classrooms on the same floor communicated more frequently and felt more emotionally attached. Among the public school teachers, propinquity amplified the positive effect that age similarity had on tie strength. The strongest network connections occurred among age-similar teachers who had classrooms on the same floor. The empirical results illustrate the value of considering how social similarity and propinquity contribute to strong ties independently and when combined with each other. 2012-03-26T14:24:28Z 2012-03-26T14:24:28Z 2011-07 2010-11 Article http://purl.org/eprint/type/JournalArticle 1047-7039 1526-5455 http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/69851 Reagans, R. “Close Encounters: Analyzing How Social Similarity and Propinquity Contribute to Strong Network Connections.” Organization Science 22.4 (2011): 835–849. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8706-3124 en_US http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/orsc.1100.0587 Organization Science Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ application/pdf Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences Prof. Reagans via Alex Caracuzzo |
spellingShingle | Reagans, Ray Eugene Close encounters: Analyzing how social similarity and propinquity contribute to strong network connections. |
title | Close encounters: Analyzing how social similarity and propinquity contribute to strong network connections. |
title_full | Close encounters: Analyzing how social similarity and propinquity contribute to strong network connections. |
title_fullStr | Close encounters: Analyzing how social similarity and propinquity contribute to strong network connections. |
title_full_unstemmed | Close encounters: Analyzing how social similarity and propinquity contribute to strong network connections. |
title_short | Close encounters: Analyzing how social similarity and propinquity contribute to strong network connections. |
title_sort | close encounters analyzing how social similarity and propinquity contribute to strong network connections |
url | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/69851 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8706-3124 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT reagansrayeugene closeencountersanalyzinghowsocialsimilarityandpropinquitycontributetostrongnetworkconnections |