Introduction to Social Network Theory

I. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................... 3
1. What is a Network?.................................................................................................................................................. 3
2. Sociological Questions about Relationships ........................................................................................................ 3
2.1 Connections........................................................................................................................................................ 4
Proposition 1. Propinquity. ...................................................................................................................................... 4
2.2 Homophily.......................................................................................................................................................... 5
Proposition 2. Homophily and Connections .............................................................................................................. 6
Proposition 2a Homophily and individuals ............................................................................................................... 6
Proposition 2b Homophily and collectivities .............................................................................................................. 6
Proposition 2 c. Individuals or groups with homophilous relations are likely to share similar attitudes.................... 7
2.3 Distance between two nodes.................................................................................................................... 7
Proposition 3 a. Distance between any two nodes ...................................................................................................... 9
Proposition 3b. The Size of the Interpersonal Environment.....................................................................................10
Proposition 3c. The “Small World” .......................................................................................................................10
Proposition 3d. “Six Degrees of Separation” ..........................................................................................................11
Proposition 3e. The effective distance between nodes. ................................................................................................11
2. 4 Dyads and Mutuality......................................................................................................................................13
Proposition 4a. All dyads have some form of mutual regulation...............................................................................17
Proposition 4b. Taking the role of the other. ...........................................................................................................17
2.5 Balance and Triads ..........................................................................................................................................18
Proposition 5. The Balance Hypothesis...................................................................................................................18
II. Further Elementary Social Attributes of Nodes and Networks.........................................................................19
1. Relationships...........................................................................................................................................................19
2. Position ....................................................................................................................................................................20
Proposition 6 Centrality........................................................................................................................................20
3. Position and Relationships ...................................................................................................................................21
3. 1 Named Positions and Relationships...........................................................................................................22
3.2 Informal Relationships and informal positions ..........................................................................................23
Proposition 7. Informal and named relations ......................................................................................................24
3.1.1 Embeddedness of the Informal within Named Networks ...............................................................25
3.1. 2 Observed roles that are not necessarily named by participants.......................................................25
Proposition 8. Stability of named positions.........................................................................................................26
4. Multiplexity .............................................................................................................................................................27
5. The Strength of Weak Ties...................................................................................................................................29
Proposition 9: Weak ties facilitate the flow of information from otherwise distant parts of a network. ..................30
Proposition 9a: Weak ties help to integrate social systems. ..................................................................................30
III. Aspects of Complete Networks.............................................................................................................................31
1. Position and Social Capital ...................................................................................................................................31
2. Thresholds...............................................................................................................................................................32
3. Network Segmentation..........................................................................................................................................33
3.1 Named and Unnamed Network Segments..................................................................................................33
3.1.1 Primary Groups and Cliques..................................................................................................................34
3.1.2 Principles of Network Segmentation....................................................................................................34
3.1.2.1 Density.................................................................................................................................................34
3.1.2.2 Structural Similarity.............................................................................................................................36
3.1.3 Types of network clusters ......................................................................................................................36
3.3.4 Core Periphery Clusters..........................................................................................................................37
Proposition 10. Cores possess whatever attributes are most valued by the network. ..............................................41
Proposition 11: Network polarization is a key process in social change...............................................................42
3.2 The Penumbra, Multiple Flows, and Cross-Cutting Circles .....................................................................45
3.3 Social Circles ....................................................................................................................................................46
Proposition 12. Members of social circles, especially core members, enjoy some characteristics of primary groups: social
support and enforceable trust. .............................................................................................................................48
Proposition 13. The greater the number of intersecting social circles of which a node is a member, the greater that
node’s social capital............................................................................................................................................49
3.3.1 Patterns of social circles..........................................................................................................................50
Reference List ..................................................................................................................................................................51


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