scholarly journals Analysis of egocentric networks with R (I). Introduction to R

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 157
Author(s):  
Raffaele Vacca
Keyword(s):  
Egocentric Networks

Best Practices for Modeling Egocentric Social Network Data and Health Outcomes

2021 ◽  
pp. 193758672110137
Author(s):  
Jacqueline M. Burgette ◽  
Jacquelin Rankine ◽  
Alison J. Culyba ◽  
Kar-Hai Chu ◽  
Kathleen M. Carley
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Organizational Behavior ◽  
Network Data ◽  
Egocentric Networks ◽  
Covariate Selection ◽  
Social Network Modeling ◽  
Egocentric Network ◽  
The Impact

Objective/Aim: We describe best practices for modeling egocentric networks and health outcomes using a five-step guide. Background: Social network analysis (SNA) is common in social science fields and has more recently been used to study health-related topics including obesity, violence, substance use, health organizational behavior, and healthcare utilization. SNA, alone or in conjunction with spatial analysis, can be used to uniquely evaluate the impact of the physical or built environment on health. The environment can shape the presence, quality, and function of social relationships with spatial and network processes interacting to affect health outcomes. While there are some common measures frequently used in modeling the impact of social networks on health outcomes, there is no standard approach to social network modeling in health research, which impacts rigor and reproducibility. Methods: We provide an overview of social network concepts and terminology focused on egocentric network data. Egocentric, or personal networks, take the perspective of an individual who identifies their own connections (alters) and also the relationships between alters. Results: We describe best practices for modeling egocentric networks and health outcomes according to the following five-step guide: (1) model selection, (2) social network exposure variable and selection considerations, (3) covariate selection related to sociodemographic and health characteristics, (4) covariate selection related to social network characteristics, and (5) analytic considerations. We also present an example of SNA. Conclusions: SNA provides a powerful repertoire of techniques to examine how relationships impact attitudes, experiences, and behaviors—and subsequently health.

Metrics of Evolving Ego-Networks with Forgetting Factor

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-47
Author(s):  
Rui Portocarrero Sarmento
Keyword(s):  
Data Stream ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Network Data ◽  
Power Law Distribution ◽  
Forgetting Factor ◽  
Egocentric Networks ◽  
Ego Networks ◽  
Related Literature ◽  
The Past

Nowadays, treating the data as a continuous real-time flux is an exigence explained by the need for immediate response to events in daily life. We study the data like an ongoing data stream and represent it by streaming egocentric networks (Ego-Networks) of the particular nodes under study. We use a non-standard node forgetting factor in the representation of the network data stream, as previously introduced in the related literature. This way the representation is sensible to recent events in users' networks and less sensible for the past node events. We study this method with large scale Ego-Networks taken from telecommunications social networks with power law distribution. We aim to compare and analysis some reference Ego-Networks metrics, and their variation with or without forgetting factor.

scholarly journals Detecting problematic transactions in a consumer-to-consumer e-commerce network

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shun Kodate ◽  
Ryusuke Chiba ◽  
Shunya Kimura ◽  
Naoki Masuda
Keyword(s):  
Traditional Approach ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Classification Performance ◽  
Local Network ◽  
User Profiles ◽  
Directed Edge ◽  
Egocentric Networks ◽  
Online Marketplaces ◽  
Registered User ◽  
Online Consumer

AbstractProviders of online marketplaces are constantly combatting against problematic transactions, such as selling illegal items and posting fictive items, exercised by some of their users. A typical approach to detect fraud activity has been to analyze registered user profiles, user’s behavior, and texts attached to individual transactions and the user. However, this traditional approach may be limited because malicious users can easily conceal their information. Given this background, network indices have been exploited for detecting frauds in various online transaction platforms. In the present study, we analyzed networks of users of an online consumer-to-consumer marketplace in which a seller and the corresponding buyer of a transaction are connected by a directed edge. We constructed egocentric networks of each of several hundreds of fraudulent users and those of a similar number of normal users. We calculated eight local network indices based on up to connectivity between the neighbors of the focal node. Based on the present descriptive analysis of these network indices, we fed twelve features that we constructed from the eight network indices to random forest classifiers with the aim of distinguishing between normal users and fraudulent users engaged in each one of the four types of problematic transactions. We found that the classifier accurately distinguished the fraudulent users from normal users and that the classification performance did not depend on the type of problematic transaction.

The role of egocentric networks in achieving resilience: a case study from the apparel sector

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 682-697 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jyotirmoyee Bhattacharjya
Keyword(s):  
Supply Network ◽  
Financial Health ◽  
Multiple Perspectives ◽  
Egocentric Networks ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Egocentric Network ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the egocentric network-based strategies used by upstream firms to ensure their own resilience when the disruptions originate with downstream partners. Design/methodology/approach The paper adopts a case study approach as this is well-suited to the investigation of a complex phenomenon from multiple perspectives. Findings The study finds that the egocentric networks of upstream firms participating in the supply network of a retailer could ensure their own resilience even after the sudden demise of the downstream entity. Originality/value The study addresses the lack of adequate empirical research examining resilience from the perspectives of multiple entities in a supply network. It is also one of the few papers to address resilience from the perspective of upstream players in the context of a disruption originating with downstream partners. The findings suggest that the lack of visibility in relation to the financial health of more powerful downstream partners could be problematic from a supplier’s perspective. It identifies well-developed egocentric networks as being essential for minimizing consequences of limited downstream visibility and the impact on social capital.

scholarly journals The Size and Heterogeneity of Egocentric Networks and Social Integration in Hungary

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 845-865
Author(s):  
Márton Gerő ◽  
Gábor Hajdu
Keyword(s):  
Social Integration ◽  
Public Participation ◽  
Strong Ties ◽  
Egocentric Networks ◽  
Network Characteristics ◽  
Self Evaluation ◽  
Egocentric Network ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Internal Side ◽  
Objective Indicators

In this study, we examine the relationship between objective and subjective dimensions of social integration and the size and heterogeneity of an egocentric network using nationally representative databases from Hungary. We measure social integration with the level of trust and the level of public participation (objective dimension) and with individuals’ self-evaluation of whether they are integrated (subjective dimension). Our results show that while the size and heterogeneity of the egocentric network are positively associated, the proportion of relatives among strong ties correlates negatively with objective indicators of social integration. The heterogeneity of weak ties is related positively to public participation. The correlation between the size and composition of egocentric networks and subjective integration is less clear: The proportion of relatives among strong ties seems to be unrelated to the external side of perceived social integration, while it is associated positively with the internal side of subjective integration. The number of strong ties seems to be positively correlated with both sides of subjective integration. These results suggest that higher levels of social integration cannot be achieved without concentrating on more than one of the network’s dimensions. They also underline the need to pay more attention to network characteristics and social support not only regarding perceived social integration but also regarding objective indicators of social integration.

scholarly journals Why are the oldest old less generous? Explanations for the unexpected age-related drop in charitable giving

2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 486-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
PAMALA WIEPKING ◽  
RUSSELL N. JAMES
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Charitable Giving ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Church Attendance ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
The United States ◽  
Religious Attendance ◽  
Egocentric Networks ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Health Cognition

ABSTRACTPrevious research has demonstrated that the generally positive relationship between age and the presence of charitable giving becomes negative at the oldest ages. We investigate potential causes of this drop in charitable giving among the oldest old including changes in health, cognition, egocentric networks, religious attendance, and substitution of charitable bequest planning. A longitudinal analysis of data from the United States Health and Retirement Survey indicates that the drop in charitable giving is mediated largely by changes in the frequency of church attendance, with only modest influences from changes in health and cognition.

scholarly journals Determinants of Knowledge Transfer in Egocentric Networks. Comparative Analysis of Professions

2022 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 40-53
Author(s):  
Marzena Fryczyńska
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Knowledge Work ◽  
Knowledge Networks ◽  
It Professionals ◽  
Egocentric Networks ◽  
Egocentric Network

This paper investigates determinants of knowledge transfer in egocentric networks of knowledge recipient and knowledge provider, what is crucial to knowledge management in organisations. Knowledge transfer is assumed to depend on knowledge work, networking competence, and the subject’s profession: teacher, Information Technology (IT) professional, or physician. The paper reports result of a quantitative study among samples of mentioned professionalists. Regression models testing, including mediation and moderation, were performed. The findings indicate that knowledge transfer in the egocentric network of the knowledge recipient increases along with knowledge work, but only when it is mediated by networking competence. Analyses in each profession support a partial mediation in the case of IT professionals and teachers. Knowledge transfer in egocentric network of the knowledge provider increases along with knowledge work of the provider. In the case of physicians, knowledge transfer in the providers’ and recipients’ knowledge networks is affected neither by knowledge work nor by networking competence.

scholarly journals The Structure of Social Networks and Its Link to Higher Education Students' Socio-Emotional Loneliness During COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel D.S. Hopp ◽  
Marion Händel ◽  
Svenja Bedenlier ◽  
Michaela Gläser-Zikuda ◽  
Rudolf Kammerl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Online Communication ◽  
Education Student ◽  
Emotional Experiences ◽  
Egocentric Networks ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
Emotional Loneliness ◽  
Digital Skills ◽  
The Impact

Lonely students typically underperform academically. According to several studies, the COVID-19 pandemic is an important risk factor for increases in loneliness, as the contact restrictions and the switch to mainly online classes potentially burden the students. The previously familiar academic environment (campus) as well as the exchange with peers and lecturers on site were no longer made available. In our study, we examine factors that could potentially counteract the development of higher education student loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic from a social network perspective. During the semester, N = 283 students from across all institutional faculties of a German comprehensive university took part in an online survey. We surveyed their social and emotional experiences of loneliness, their self-reported digital skills, and their current egocentric networks. We distinguished between close online contacts (i.e., mainly online exchanges) and close offline contacts (i.e., mainly in situ exchanges). In addition, we derived the interconnectedness (i.e., the densities of the egocentric networks) and diversity (operationalized with the entropy) of students’ contacts. The results of correlation analyses and hierarchical linear regressions indicate that strong digital skills are related to both a higher number of online contacts and to lower social and emotional experiences of loneliness. Regardless of whether offline or online, the number of reported contacts is indicative of a lower experience of social loneliness. A well-connected network related to lower experiences of social but not emotional loneliness. Finally, findings suggest that homogenous networks tend to be related with lower experiences of both social and emotional loneliness. Overall, our study indicates that barriers to online communication might be mitigating factors to consider when assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student loneliness.

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