Egonet measures

In this module we study ways of characterizing a node's ego network -- their "network neighborhood". For example, we measure the heterogeneity of a node's alters, and the extent to which the node is similar to their alters. This ego-alter similarity can be used to measure homophily (if we assume that ego is choosing their alters on the basis of their similarity) or influence (if we assume that ego became the way they are because of their alters).

Readings

ASN ch 8
Kilduff, M., & Krackhardt, D. (1994). Bringing the individual back in: A structural analysis of the internal market for reputation in organizations. Academy of management journal, 37(1), 87-108.
- reproducing this study in Ucinet

Data/Handouts

Homophily workbook

Class Notes

Notes | egonets

Exercises

Slides (from another course)

Supplementary Readings

Marsden, P. V. (1987). Core discussion networks of Americans. American sociological review, 122-131.
Marsden, P. V. (1988). Homogeneity in confiding relations. Social networks, 10(1), 57-76.
Brands, R., & Rattan, A. (2021). Use your social network as a tool for social justice. Harvard Business Review. Accessed October, 7.
Podolny, J. M. (1993). A status-based model of market competition. American journal of sociology, 98(4), 829-872.
Lewis, N. A., & Yoneda, T. (2021). Within-couple personality concordance over time: The importance of personality synchrony for perceived spousal support. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 76(1), 31-43. [random article from the literature on spouses converging over time]
Friedkin, N. E., & Johnsen, E. C. (1997). Social positions in influence networks. Social networks, 19(3), 209-222.