Korean university life in a network perspective: Dynamics of a large affiliation network

TL;DR

This study analyzes the evolution of student positions in a large university affiliation network over 18 semesters, revealing patterns of centrality and tie strengthening among students.

Contribution

It introduces a method for analyzing large-scale, time-resolved affiliation networks and proposes a new weighted clustering coefficient.

Findings

Students start at the network center and diffuse outward over time.

Ties to initial classmates tend to strengthen as students progress.

The network analysis reveals dynamic social position changes.

Abstract

We investigate course registration data of 18 semesters at a Korean University to portray the time evolution of students' positions in the network of fellow students. Apart from being a study of the social positions of students, the present work is also an example of how large-scale, time resolved, affiliation networks can be analyzed. For example we discuss the proper definitions of weights, and propose a redefined weighted clustering coefficient. Among other things, we find that the students enter the network at the center and are gradually diffusing towards the periphery. On the other hand, the ties to the classmates of the first semester (still present at the university) will, on average, become stronger as time progresses.