scholarly journals The Strength of Weak Ties Revisited: Further Evidence of the Role of Strong Ties in the Provision of Online Social Support

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 205630512110249
Author(s):  
Nicole C. Krämer ◽  
Vera Sauer ◽  
Nicole Ellison
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Network Sites ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Weak Ties ◽  
Informational Support ◽  
Strong Ties ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
Received Social Support ◽  
Strength Of Weak Ties

In this work, we challenge the assumption that weak ties play uniquely important social support roles on social network sites, particularly regarding informational support. To overcome methodological limitations of earlier research, we present a mixed-methods study. Forty-one participants were interviewed and asked to identify five weak, medium, and strong ties each and to report on perceived and actually received social support (emotional, informational, instrumental, and appraisal) associated with each. Complicating traditional understandings of “the strength of weak ties,” the qualitative analyses of actual support events show that both emotional and informational support is provided by strong ties. In an additional quantitative between-subjects study design, 352 participants were asked about various aspects of a weak, medium, or strong tie. These results indicate that participants valued their strong ties more regarding every form of support. Although there were only weak correlations between perceived and recalled actually received support, people also report actual support events with strong ties to be more helpful—overall suggesting the strength of strong ties.

Differences between Role of Strong Ties and Weak Ties in Information Diffusion on Social Network Sites

2014 ◽  
pp. 307-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanaz Kavianpour ◽  
Zuraini Ismail ◽  
Bharanidharan Shanmugam
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Significant Role ◽  
Information Diffusion ◽  
Social Network Sites ◽  
Weak Ties ◽  
Information Propagation ◽  
Strong Ties ◽  
Strength Of Ties

The popularity of Social Network Sites (SNSs) has increased recently. Social network sites provide platforms which operate based on exchanging information among users; therefore, information propagation is a significant topic in social networking researches. The goal of this chapter is to study the factors that have a significant role in information diffusion, then compare the role of ties in spreading information and evaluating the strength of ties. The result shows that, although strong ties have an important role, the likelihood of information diffusion by weak ties is higher.

Weak ties matter: Social network dynamics of mobile media multiplexity and their impact on the social support and psychological well-being experienced by migrant workers

2021 ◽  
pp. 205015792110011
Author(s):  
Piper Liping Liu ◽  
Tien Ee Dominic Yeo
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Weak Ties ◽  
Mobile Media ◽  
Strong Ties ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
The Social ◽  
Media Multiplexity ◽  
Mobile Ict

This study investigates the contextual and relational characteristics that underlie people’s information and communication technology (ICT) use and the implications for their well-being. We contextualize this investigation according to migrants, because they are faced with disruptions to their personal networks in the migration process that may attenuate the availability of social support and negatively affect their mental health. Migrants tend to be proficient in using mobile ICT to connect with different social ties to fulfill their needs, which potentially makes a difference to their psychological well-being. Through a survey of 504 internal migrant workers in China, we examined the social network factors that underlie multiple mobile ICT use and the attendant influences on social support and psychological well-being. Redressing the overemphasis on the importance of strong ties in extant literature, this study highlights the salience of mobile media multiplexity (i.e., the use of multiple mobile communication channels for social interactions) in weak tie communication and the greater contribution of weak ties toward social support and psychological well-being than strong ties. Our findings suggest that mobile-mediated communicative relationships with newer and more distanced social connections outside their immediate circles enhance the well-being of migrants. We contend that media multiplexity vis-à-vis weak ties underscores the reconfiguration of migrants’ communicative relationships following the separation from original ties and facilitates rewarding interactions with new ties.

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.

Analyzing Online Social Support Within the Type 1 Diabetes Community

2018 ◽  
pp. 59-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin G. Maki ◽  
Aisha K. O'Mally
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Type 1 Diabetes ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Chronic Illnesses ◽  
Informational Support ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
Social Media Platforms

Social support has been linked with many health outcomes, ranging from heart disease to depression. Although its importance has been recognized, less is known about how individuals with chronic illnesses may use social media to provide and seek social support. This chapter's focus is on the way in which people with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) use social media to provide and solicit social support. A mixed-methods approach is utilized. First, posts from two social media platforms were qualitatively content analyzed. Second, the data were quantitatively analyzed to provide a finer-grained understanding of the messages. The results show informational support as the most prevalent on both sites, although there are some differences in content and use. This chapter's implications highlight the importance of social media as a conduit for social support among caregivers and individuals affected by T1D.

scholarly journals A typology of job search sources: Exploring the changing nature of job search networks

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1173-1191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron W Piercy ◽  
Sun Kyong Lee
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Job Search ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Social Network Sites ◽  
Weak Ties ◽  
Job Seekers ◽  
Source Type ◽  
Strength Of Weak Ties ◽  
Search Networks ◽  
Online Sources

This study explored American job seekers’ network of information sources using a random sample. Results revealed a pattern that job seekers segmented information sources by social (i.e. personal and professional acquaintances, family, and friends), formal (i.e. employment agencies, printed advertisements, and career events), and online (i.e. online pages and social network sites) types. Although online sources were particularly central in the network, job seekers who used one source type did so at the expense of other types of sources. Older and poorer job seekers were more likely to use formal sources, while online sources were used more by job seekers with higher education and Internet efficacy. The discussion offers advice for job seekers and those who coach job search. This study extends strength of weak ties theory by demonstrating the importance of online sources in job search.

scholarly journals The Strength of Weak Ties: Role of Networks in Nepali Migration to South and Southeast Asia 1900-2000

1970 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-47
Author(s):  
Lopita Nath
Keyword(s):  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Weak Ties ◽  
South And Southeast Asia ◽  
Strength Of Weak Ties

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/bodhi.v4i1.5809Bodhi 2010 4(1): 18-47

scholarly journals The Direct and Indirect Effects of Online Social Support, Neuroticism, and Web Content Internalization on the Drive for Thinness among Women Visiting Health-Oriented Websites

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 2416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikol Kvardova ◽  
Hana Machackova ◽  
David Smahel
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Harmful Effect ◽  
Online Support ◽  
Drive For Thinness ◽  
Web Content ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
Media Usage ◽  
Key Factor

One of the debates about media usage is the potential harmful effect that it has on body image and related eating disturbances because of its representations of the “ideal body”. This study focuses on the drive for thinness among the visitors of various health-oriented websites and online platforms because neither has yet been sufficiently studied in this context. Specifically, this study aims to bring more insight to the risk factors which can increase the drive for thinness in the users of these websites. We tested the presumption that web content internalization is a key factor in this process, and we considered the effects of selected individual factors, specifically the perceived online social support and neuroticism. We utilized survey data from 445 Czech women (aged 18–29, M = 23.5, SD = 3.1) who visited nutrition, weight loss, and exercise websites. The results showed a positive indirect link between both perceived online social support and neuroticism to the drive for thinness via web content internalization. The results are discussed with regard to the dual role of online support as both risk and protective factor. Moreover, we consider the practical implications for eating behavior and weight-related problems with regard to prevention and intervention.

Dilemma of Hotel Reviews: The Role of Information Processing and Validation through Metacognition

2020 ◽  
pp. 004728752093886
Author(s):  
GuoQiong Ivanka Huang ◽  
IpKin Anthony Wong ◽  
Rob Law
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Information Processing ◽  
Personal Information ◽  
Online Reviews ◽  
Social Forces ◽  
Social Commerce ◽  
Persuasive Message ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
The Impact

A comprehensive model is proposed to understand how travelers manage copious and even competing online reviews through a validation process, by examining the impact of social support, persuasive message compliance, persuasive message resistance, and metacognition on tourists’ willingness to be involved in social commerce. Based on the theories of signaling and reactance, the model explores how social forces, such as online social support and personal information-processing drivers (i.e., information processing and validating procedure), can explain customers’ social commerce intentions. A survey of tourists in 61 mid- to high-end hotels indicates that social support is positively related to persuasive message compliance, resistance, and social commerce intention. The findings indicate that persuasive message compliance and resistance mediate the relationship between social support and social commerce intention, whereas the mediation relationships are conditioned on metacognition.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document