Chatting at Church: Information Diffusion through Religious Networks

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-46
Author(s):  
David M. A. Murphy ◽  
Vesall Nourani ◽  
David R. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Causal Relationship ◽  
Instrumental Variable ◽  
Information Diffusion ◽  
Social Ties ◽  
Weak Ties ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Dyadic Relationships ◽  
Religious Institution ◽  
Percentage Points ◽  
Religious Networks

This paper shows the causal relationship between mutual religious association and the formation of social ties. We analyze dyadic relationships and show that joint attendance at a religious institution (RI) increases the probability of sharing information with and trusting a peer. We use a novel spatial instrumental variable strategy that combines insights from homestead inheritance institutions with triangular distances between peers and RI locations within villages in Kenya. We find that shared attendance at a RI increases the likelihood of receiving advice from a peer by 30 percentage points, demonstrating the strong impact of “weak ties” formed through social spaces.

Community-based disaster communication: how does it become trustworthy?

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 478-491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dwie Irmawaty Gultom
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Response ◽  
Information Diffusion ◽  
Weak Ties ◽  
Network Ties ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Strong Ties ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Disaster Communication ◽  
Disaster Information

Purpose – Trust in disaster communication is significant because a lack of trust will prevent the transformation of information into usable knowledge for an effective disaster response. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate how the culture and network ties of an affected community can encourage trust and participation in disaster communication. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative case study of Jalin Merapi (JM) was conducted by interviewing 33 research participants in the Mt Merapi surroundings. Findings – The findings indicate that culture-embedded disaster communication plays important roles in increasing the effectiveness of disaster information and encouraging trust in the authenticity of locally based disaster information at the individual level. The findings also identify that strong ties and weak ties play different roles in disaster communication. The strong ties are more effective in facilitating information diffusion and encourage trust and community participation within the affected community. Furthermore, the weak ties are more effective in disseminating information to wider audiences, and have an indirect influence in encouraging trust by extending the offline social network owned by the affected community. Originality/value – Most literature on disaster communication focusses on the construction of disaster messages to encourage effective disaster response. Less attention has been paid to the information receivers regarding how disaster information is considered to be trustworthy by the affected community and how it can increase collective participation in community-based disaster communication.

scholarly journals Relationship between obesity and the risk of clinically significant depression: Mendelian randomisation study

2014 ◽  
Vol 205 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chi-Fa Hung ◽  
Margarita Rivera ◽  
Nick Craddock ◽  
Michael J. Owen ◽  
Michael Gill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Major Depression ◽  
Causal Relationship ◽  
Instrumental Variable ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Genetic Risk Score ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Mendelian Randomisation ◽  
Probit Regression ◽  
Reverse Causality ◽  
Increased Risk

BackgroundObesity has been shown to be associated with depression and it has been suggested that higher body mass index (BMI) increases the risk of depression and other common mental disorders. However, the causal relationship remains unclear and Mendelian randomisation, a form of instrumental variable analysis, has recently been employed to attempt to resolve this issue.AimsTo investigate whether higher BMI increases the risk of major depression.MethodTwo instrumental variable analyses were conducted to test the causal relationship between obesity and major depression in RADIANT, a large case–control study of major depression. We used a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in FTO and a genetic risk score (GRS) based on 32 SNPs with well-established associations with BMI.ResultsLinear regression analysis, as expected, showed that individuals carrying more risk alleles of FTO or having higher score of GRS had a higher BMI. Probit regression suggested that higher BMI is associated with increased risk of major depression. However, our two instrumental variable analyses did not support a causal relationship between higher BMI and major depression (FTO genotype: coefficient −0.03, 95% CI −0.18 to 0.13, P = 0.73; GRS: coefficient −0.02, 95% CI −0.11 to 0.07, P = 0.62).ConclusionsOur instrumental variable analyses did not support a causal relationship between higher BMI and major depression. The positive associations of higher BMI with major depression in probit regression analyses might be explained by reverse causality and/or residual confounding.

scholarly journals Protest engagement: weak vs strong social ties

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 (3) ◽  
pp. 23-33
Author(s):  
Ruslana Moskotina
Keyword(s):  
Social Ties ◽  
Threshold Model ◽  
Computer Experiments ◽  
Weak Ties ◽  
Sociological Study ◽  
Strong Ties ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Agent Based Modelling ◽  
Strength Of Weak Ties ◽  
The One

This article dwells upon the importance of finding methods and ways of studying protest behaviour that can explain its emergence. Protest behaviour is considered as the result of protest engagement. It is assumed that there are social ties between individuals, potential protesters. M. Granovetter proposes to distinguish strong ties and weak ties. Strong ties tend to form closed and cohesive groups but weak ties can be the bridges that match groups and/or individuals. The author of this article conducts a research with applying a method of agent-based modelling. Its aim is to test the Granovetter’s thesis about the strength of weak ties towards protest behaviour. In this research the linear threshold model is used. Our research with applying method of the agent-based modelling includes the computer experiments (simulations) with the social networks. There are generated five networks, three of which contain only strong ties and the rest of the networks contain only weak ties. Simulations with the networks allow us to determine the number of inactive agents that are involved in the protest, the speed of the protest engagement and the effectiveness of overcoming the resistance of inactive agents. It is found that both weak ties and strong ties can determine protest behaviour. Strong ties contribute to a quicker protest engagement. Weak ties can better overcome the resistance of inactive agents. At the same time weak ties slow down the process of the protest engagement and strong ties are generally less effective in overcoming the resistance of inactive agents. Agent-based modelling helps us to conduct the fundamental research. On the one hand we test Granovetter’s thesis about the strength of weak ties towards protest behaviour. On the other hand we cannot draw conclusions about protest behaviour in Ukraine. But we can conduct an empirical sociological study in order to test the results of our research and understand its relevance towards protest behaviour in Ukraine.

scholarly journals Effect of Improving Housing Conditions on Early Childhood Health in Rural Sudan

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 96
Author(s):  
Obbey A. Elamin
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Housing Sector ◽  
Childhood Health ◽  
Under Five ◽  
Under Five Children ◽  
Early Childhood Health ◽  
Percentage Points ◽  
Piped Water

Improving housing sector in rural areas is important to improve health status of under-five children. Propensity score matching using nonparametric kernel estimates is used to examine the effect of improving rural structure of houses in rural Sudan and provide them with services like access to clean piped water, sanitation on improving under-five children health. The prevalence of diarrhoea and cough in rural Sudan are used as measures of health outcome and data from the Sudan Household Health Survey in 2010 is used. Our results show that providing houses with piped water can reduce prevalence of diarrhoea and cough by 22 and 24 percentage points, respectively. Gas cooking fuel reduces the prevalence rates by 26 and 29 percentage points, respectively. Construction materials of walls have strong impact on reducing the prevalence of both illnesses. We recommend that the quality of piped water should be observed and maintained in good standard to ensure that clean water is supplies to the household sector. Developing the housing sector in the rural has many advantages in improving early childhood health in Sudan and it should be one of the priorities of the government.

scholarly journals Integration in emerging social networks explains academic failure and success

2018 ◽  
Vol 116 (3) ◽  
pp. 792-797 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Stadtfeld ◽  
András Vörös ◽  
Timon Elmer ◽  
Zsófia Boda ◽  
Isabel J. Raabe
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Academic Success ◽  
Network Formation ◽  
Social Ties ◽  
Academic Failure ◽  
Socioeconomic Background ◽  
Positive Interactions ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Academic Year

Academic success of students has been explained with a variety of individual and socioeconomic factors. Social networks that informally emerge within student communities can have an additional effect on their achievement. However, this effect of social ties is difficult to measure and quantify, because social networks are multidimensional and dynamically evolving within the educational context. We repeatedly surveyed a cohort of 226 engineering undergraduates between their first day at university and a crucial examination at the end of the academic year. We investigate how social networks emerge between previously unacquainted students and how integration in these networks explains academic success. Our study measures multiple important dimensions of social ties between students: their positive interactions, friendships, and studying relations. By using statistical models for dynamic network data, we are able to investigate the processes of social network formation in the cohort. We find that friendship ties informally evolve into studying relationships over the academic year. This process is crucial, as studying together with others, in turn, has a strong impact on students’ success at the examination. The results are robust to individual differences in socioeconomic background factors and to various indirect measures of cognitive abilities, such as prior academic achievement and being perceived as smart by other students. The findings underline the importance of understanding social network dynamics in educational settings. They call for the creation of university environments promoting the development of positive relationships in pursuit of academic success.

scholarly journals Variety Is the Spice of Late Life: Social Integration and Daily Activity

2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 377-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen L Fingerman ◽  
Meng Huo ◽  
Susan T Charles ◽  
Debra J Umberson
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Integration ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Social Ties ◽  
Weak Ties ◽  
Engagement Theory ◽  
Social Encounters ◽  
Objectively Measured ◽  
Ecological Momentary

Abstract Objectives Social integration (involvement with a diverse array of social ties) has been linked to positive outcomes including better physical health. Research has not investigated whether encounters with diverse social ties enhance individuals’ daily behaviors. The objectives of this study were to assess whether social ties connect individuals to more diverse daily behaviors, physical activity, and nonsedentary time as well as more positive mood. Method Older adults (aged 65+, n = 313) provided information about their 10 closest social ties. Then they completed ecological momentary assessment (EMA) surveys every 3 hr for 5–6 days where they reported on social encounters and behaviors. They also wore Actical accelerometers to objectively measure physical activity. Results Multilevel models revealed that encounters with a greater variety of social ties was associated with engaging in a greater variety of behaviors, more objectively measured physical activity, and a smaller proportion of time spent sedentary. Encounters with weak ties/peripheral social ties accounted for this increased activity (compared to being alone or with close friends or family). Moreover, involvement with diverse ties or diverse behaviors was associated with better mood. Discussion Findings are discussed in terms of social engagement theory, network diversity, and the benefits of weak ties.

Social Capital and Voter Turnout: Evidence from Saint's Day Fiestas in Mexico

2012 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew D. Atkinson ◽  
Anthony Fowler
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Causal Relationship ◽  
Voter Turnout ◽  
Natural Experiment ◽  
Omitted Variables ◽  
Reverse Causation ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Community Activity ◽  
Community Activities ◽  
Percentage Points

Social capital and community activity are thought to increase voter turnout, but reverse causation and omitted variables may bias the results of previous studies. This article exploits saint's day fiestas in Mexico as a natural experiment to test this causal relationship. Saint's day fiestas provide temporary but large shocks to the connectedness and trust within a community, and the timing of these fiestas is quasi-random. For both cross-municipality and within-municipality estimates, saint's day fiestas occurring near an election decrease turnout by 2.5 to 3.5 percentage points. So community activities that generate social capital can inhibit political participation. These findings may give pause to scholars and policy makers who assume that such community activity and social capital will improve the performance of democracy.

Weak Ties, Labor Migration, and Environmental Impacts

2012 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaodong Chen ◽  
Kenneth A. Frank ◽  
Thomas Dietz ◽  
Jianguo Liu
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Labor Migration ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Social Ties ◽  
Natural Capital ◽  
Weak Ties ◽  
Global Sustainability ◽  
Sustainability Theory ◽  
Human And Social Capital

Debate about the substitutability of manufactured, natural, human, and social capital is at the heart of sustainability theory. Sociology can contribute to this debate by examining the processes and mechanisms by which one form of capital is substituted for another. The authors examine the substitution among different forms of capitals at China’s Wolong Nature Reserve, where the consumption of an important aspect of natural capital, fuelwood, has serious consequences for the environment. The authors found that weak social ties to people in urban settings significantly increased rural–urban labor migration. Following the chain of capital substitutions, labor migration then significantly reduced fuelwood consumption. These findings indicate policies that facilitate the development of social capital between people in Wolong and people in urban areas could substantially reduce the consumption of local natural capital. Mechanisms by which different forms of capital are substituted for one another should be considered in improving global sustainability.

scholarly journals Need to Belong and Social Ties in Late Life

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 926-926
Author(s):  
Zexi Zhou ◽  
Yijung Kim ◽  
Shiyang Zhang ◽  
Karen Fingerman
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Social Ties ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Weak Ties ◽  
Similar Amount ◽  
Need To Belong ◽  
Social Encounters

Abstract According to socioemotional selectivity theory, older adults are more selective and tend to shrink their social network to their closest ties. However, a heightened need to belong, which is characterized by a stronger desire for acceptance and motivation to affiliation, may alter this common pattern. We know little about how the need to belong shapes social network structure, especially in late life. This study investigated the associations between the need to belong, size of social network, and engagement with social ties among older adults. Participants (N = 314) aged over 65 years from the Daily Experiences and Well-being Study completed a baseline interview regarding their close ties (i.e., social convoy members), and weak ties, as well as a self-report measure of need to belong. They completed ecological momentary assessment (EMA) surveys reporting their social encounters every 3 hours over 5 to 6 days. Need to belong was unrelated to the number of close ties. In contrast, participants with a higher need to belong reported more less close (but still important) ties and weak ties than those with a lower need to belong, but spent a similar amount of time (i.e., proportion of EMA involving social encounters) with either their close ties or weak ties. These results suggest that the need to belong may motivate older adults to go beyond their closest ties to weaker ties, and highlight the discrepancies between the sense of being connected to social partners and the actual engagement with them in this process.

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