Large-scale Geographical Structure in Interpersonal Networks within the Western United States

• In Event: 435 - Regular Session. Mathematical Sociology

Abstract

Geography is known to be a strong predictor of social interaction, and simulation studies of interpersonal network structure based on population distribution have suggested the presence of large-scale anisotropies driven by geographical effects. Here, we employ data from a large sample of individuals in the western United States to show the first empirical evidence of these features. Our findings also replicate prior results showing a power-law decay in marginal tie probability as a function of distance, with the exception of an apparent ``barrier effect'' at distances of more than approximately 4500km for this population. We also investigate relational multiplexity, finding it largely invariant to distance with the exception of within-household and very long-distance ties.

Authors

• Carter T. Butts, University of California, Irvine

• Emily J Smith, University of California, Irvine

• John R. Hipp, University of California, Irvine

• Nagle N Nicholas, University of Tennessee

• Adam Michael Boessen, University of California

• Ryan M. Acton, University of Massachusetts Amherst

• Christopher Steven Marcum, National Institutes of Health

• Zack W. Almquist, University of Minnesota