Concepedia

Social Structure from Multiple Networks. I. Blockmodels of Roles and Positions

Harrison C. White, Scott A. Boorman, Ronald L. Breiger

American Journal of Sociology · 1976 · 2.1K citations · 48 references

Concepts

TL;DR

Networks of several distinct types of social tie are aggregated by a dual model that partitions a population while simultaneously identifying patterns of relations, and Part II will show how role structures in small populations can be generated from these blockmodels. Concepts and algorithms are demonstrated in five case studies involving up to 100 persons and up to eight types of tie, over as many as 15 time periods. In each case the model identifies a concrete social structure, and role and position concepts are then identified and interpreted in terms of these new models of concrete social structure.

Abstract

Networks of several distinct types of social tie are aggregated by a dual model that partitions a population while simultaneously identifying patterns of relations. Concepts and algorithms are demonstrated in five case studies involving up to 100 persons and up to eight types of tie, over as many as 15 time periods. In each case the model identifies a concrete social structure. Role and position concepts are then identified and interpreted in terms of these new models of concrete social structure. Part II, to be published in the May issue of this Journal (Boorman and White 1976), will show how the operational meaning of role structures in small populations can be generated from the sociometric blockmodels of Part I.

References

48

The Strength of Weak Ties

Mark Granovetter · American Journal of Sociology · 1973

+17

37.8K citations

7.3K citations

Dynamic models of segregation†

Thomas C. Schelling · Journal of Mathematical Sociology · 1971

+14

4.8K citations

The Sociology of Georg Simmel

Ernest Kilzer, Kurt H. Wolff · The American Catholic Sociological Review · 1950

+4

4.6K citations

Getting a Job: A Study of Contacts and Careers.

Maureen T. Hallinan, Mark Granovetter · Contemporary Sociology A Journal of Reviews · 1975

+18

3.7K citations