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...

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Main Author: Reagans, Ray Eugene
Other Authors: Sloan School of Management
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
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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.
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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
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