A notable feature of U.S. social networks is their high degree racial homogeneity, which often attributed to homophily--the preference for associating with individuals the same background. The authors unpack homogeneity using a theoretical framework that distinguishes between various tie formation mechanisms and effects on composition networks, exponential random graph modeling can disentangle these empirically, rich new data set based Facebook pages cohort college students. They first show...

The rapid growth of contemporary social network sites (SNSs) has coincided with an increasing concern over personal privacy. College students and adolescents routinely provide information on profiles that can be viewed by large numbers unknown people potentially used in harmful ways. SNSs like Facebook MySpace allow users to control the privacy level their profile, thus limiting access this information. In paper, we take preference for itself as our unit analysis, analyze factors are...

Disentangling the effects of selection and influence is one social science's greatest unsolved puzzles: Do people befriend others who are similar to them, or do they become more their friends over time? Recent advances in stochastic actor-based modeling, combined with self-reported data on a popular online network site, allow us address this question greater degree precision than has heretofore been possible. Using Facebook activity cohort college students 4 years, we find that share certain...

When the human mind is free to roam, its subjective experience characterized by a continuously evolving stream of thought. Although there technique that captures people's streams thought-free association-its utility for scientific research undermined two open questions: (a) How can thought be quantified? (b) Do such predict psychological phenomena? We resolve first issue-quantification-by presenting new metric, "forward flow," uses latent semantic analysis capture evolution thoughts over...

Despite the tremendous amount of attention that has been paid to internet as a tool for civic engagement, we still have little idea how "active" is average online activist or social networks matter in facilitating electronic protest.In this paper, use complete records on donation and recruitment activity 1.2 million members Save Darfur "Cause" Facebook provide detailed first look at massive movement.While both behavior are socially patterned, vast majority Cause recruited no one else into...

Significance Racial segregation in romantic networks is a robust and ubiquitous social phenomenon—but one we understand remarkably poorly. In this paper, I analyze large network of interactions among users popular online dating site. First, find that from all racial backgrounds are equally likely or more to cross boundary when reciprocating than initiating contact. Second, certain subsets who receive—and reply to—a cross-race message initiate new interracial exchanges the short-term future...

Agent-based modeling is a long-standing but underused method that allows researchers to simulate artificial worlds for hypothesis testing and theory building. models (ABMs) offer unprecedented control statistical power by allowing precisely specify the behavior of any number agents observe their interactions over time. ABMs are especially useful when investigating group or evolutionary processes can uniquely reveal nonlinear dynamics emergence—the process whereby local aggregate into...

In recent years, sociologists have focused less on cultural tastes as "effects" of social structure and more their causal efficacy in the creation maintenance ties. Progress this agenda has been hindered, however, by limitations theory, methods, available data. This article attempts to advance all three fronts. First, it clarifies, integrates, expands upon prior work develop a comprehensive theoretical framework for examining conversion into relationships. Second, introduces powerful network...

Psychological explanations of group genesis often require population heterogeneity in identity or other characteristics, whether deep (e.g., religion) superficial eye color). We used agent-based models to explore homogeneous populations and found robust formation with just two basic principles: reciprocity transitivity. These emergent groups demonstrated in-group cooperation out-group defection, even though agents lacked common identity. Group increased individual payoffs, number size were...

“Digital footprints” is an attractive, useful, and increasingly popular metaphor for thinking about Big Data. In this essay, I elaborate on to highlight three relatively basic fallacies in the way we tend think Data: first, that they contain information complete populations, or “ N = all”; second, recordings of naturalistic behavior; third, can be understood devoid context.

Abstract Gang members frequently refer to street life as a “game” (or “The Game”): social milieu in which status is lost or won by the way individuals and groups manage their reputations. Like other games, successfully participating game may demand adherence certain rules, such willingness violently redress threats, avoidance of “weak” behaviors, protection one’s allies. This paper draws on detailed police records violent exchanges among gangs Chicago ascertain rules fact contribute relative...

Romantic partnership is often considered an optimal barometer of intergroup relations. To date, however, it has been challenging to distinguish the characteristics people prefer in a partner from types partners that are locally available. Online dating presents new opportunity address this puzzle. In paper, I use behavioral data popular online site answer three questions regarding preferences early stages mate choice: First, what extent do similarity versus status partner—and these vary by...

This series of articles challenges some popular myths about supposedly ‘ideal’ treatment plans, and is designed to provoke reflection stimulate debate. It explains the concept ‘satisficing’ (as opposed ‘maximizing’) in dentistry, illustrates how subconscious bias self-interests might lead supposed experts promote arbitrary aspirational standards confuse them with what law expects (the Bolam Test standard) genuinely best interests an individual patient. argued that sound, patient-centred...

This three-part series of articles challenges some popular myths about supposedly ‘ideal’ treatment plans and is designed to provoke reflection stimulate debate. It explains the concept ‘satisficing’, as opposed ‘maximizing’, in dentistry, illustrates how subconscious bias self-interests might lead supposed experts promote arbitrary aspirational standards confuse them with what law expects (the Bolam Test standard), genuinely best interests an individual patient. argued that sound,...

The proliferation of new, digital communications technologies and platforms over the past few decades has transformed way humans relate to one another. In turn, there been an explosion scientific research using data on these interactions better understand how social networks emerge evolve. Curiously, this agenda proceeded with little theoretical foundation—typically assuming face-to-face ties operate same way. purpose article is interrogate assumption: I identify when, how, what consequence...

“It was months later that I began to recover and relive the mixture of emotions felt as ran marathon. There had been exuberance, course, but through it flowed a widening current disturbing melancholy. unprepared for sense loneliness more deeply farther ran.… At one great moments my life, which worked patiently hard, realized awfully alone. Something missing.”

As social scientists increasingly employ data from online sources, it is important that we acknowledge both the advantages and limitations of this research. The latter have received comparatively little public attention. In comment, I argue a recent article by Anderson colleagues: 1) inadequately describes study sample; 2) how website operates; 3) develops paper’s central measures — such difficult to evaluate generalizability, veracity, importance their claims impossible replicate findings....

Abstract Studies of education and careers in science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) commonly use a pipeline metaphor to conceptualize forward movement persistence. However, the “STEM pipeline” carries implicit assumptions regarding length (i.e. that it “starts” “stops” at specific stages one’s or career), contents some occupational fields are “in” while others not), perceived purpose “leakage,” leaving STEM, constitutes failure). Using National Survey College Graduates, we empirically...

The review question is what the impact of tattoos on administration regional anesthesia?The quantitative objective to identify and quantify risks a patient when advancing needle through tattooed skin for purpose administering anesthetic.The qualitative investigate anesthesia providers' perceptions experiences presented with and/or surgeon requests anesthetic that would require trespass skin. An additional thoughts, opinions biases related from perspective patient, provider, or other affected...

Although a tremendous amount of modern interaction is electronic, our understanding everyday digital communications—including what they look like and how their properties vary by medium relationship type—is still growing. In this paper, we examine exchange in two its simplest forms: email SMS. Specifically, data consist 2,004 messages provided diverse sample college students, supplemented in-depth interviews with authors. These were collected 2010—a time when both mediums widespread but...