Time Development of Early Social Networks: Link analysis and group dynamics
Jesper Bruun, Ian G. Bearden

TL;DR
This study analyzes the formation and evolution of social networks among first-year physics students over nine weeks, revealing patterns of link reestablishment, group dynamics, and gender-based segregation.
Contribution
It provides empirical data on early social network development, using weekly interaction networks and innovative measures to analyze group flow and segregation.
Findings
Approximately half of weekly links change, but many are reestablished.
Students frequently switch groups, indicating dynamic social structures.
Gender and lab groups influence network structure more than final grades.
Abstract
Empirical data on early network history are rare. Students beginning their studies at a university with no or few prior connections to each other offer a unique opportunity to investigate the formation and early development of social networks. During a nine week introductory physics course, first year physics students were asked to identify those with whom they communicated about problem solving in physics during the preceding week. We use these students' self reports to produce time dependent student interaction networks. These networks have also been investigated to elucidate possible effects of gender and students' final course grade. Changes in the weekly number of links are investigated to show that while roughly half of all links change from week to week, students also reestablish a growing number of links as they progress through their first weeks of study. To investigate how…
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Taxonomy
TopicsComplex Network Analysis Techniques · Opinion Dynamics and Social Influence · Mental Health Research Topics
