Homophily and Status: How Curricular Groups and Academic Performance Shape Friendship Selection Among College Students

• In Event: AERA Graduate Student Research in Progress Roundtable Session Two
  In Roundtable Session: Connection and Belonging in Education Contexts: Homophily, Engagement, and Student-Faculty Relationships (Table 1)

Abstract

While scholars are increasingly acknowledging the importance of social connections for success in college, we know relatively little about how routine organizational practices shape processes of friendship selection among students. In this project I draw upon complete network data on a first-time entering biological sciences freshman cohort (N=872), and social network analysis, to examine how curricular group membership and differential academic performance shape the friendships that emerge within a competitive setting. Based on prior theory and work in the K-12 context, I expect a formal ranking of students based on these characteristics to shape friendship selection through homophily and status.

Author

• Wesley Jeffrey, University of California - Irvine
  Presenting Author