Exploring variation in active network size: Constraints and ego characteristics

Roberts, Sam, Dunbar, Robin, Pollet, Thomas and Kuppens, Toon (2009) Exploring variation in active network size: Constraints and ego characteristics. Social Networks, 31 (2). pp. 138-146. ISSN 0378-8733

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Abstract

Studies of active personal networks have primarily focused on providing reliable estimates of the size of the network. In this study, we examine how compositional properties of the network and ego characteristics are related to variation in network size. There was a negative relationship between mean emotional closeness and network size, for both related and unrelated networks. Further, there was a distinct upper bound on total network size. These results suggest that there are constraints both on the absolute number of individuals that ego can maintain in the network, and also on the emotional intensity of the relationships that ego can maintain with those individuals.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Social networks, Personal networks, Individual difference, Constraints, Emotional closeness
Subjects:	C800 Psychology
Department:	Faculties > Health and Life Sciences > Psychology
Depositing User:	Becky Skoyles
Date Deposited:	26 Sep 2017 10:56
Last Modified:	12 Oct 2019 16:29
URI:	http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/32054

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