"Six degrees of separation"

[sleipnir214]

Columbia University has concluded it's "Small World" experiment, in which it researched interpersonal networks. The results may be found here and here. The introductory paragraph reads:

We report on a global social-search experiment in which more than 60,000 e-mail users attempted to reach one of 18 target persons in 13 countries by forwarding messages to acquaintances. We find that successful social search is conducted primarily through intermediate to weak strength ties, does not require highly connected "hubs" to succeed, and, in contrast to unsuccessful social search, disproportionately relies on professional relationships. By accounting for the attrition of message chains, we estimate that social searches can reach their targets in a median of five to seven steps, depending on the separation of source and target, although small variations in chain lengths and participation rates generate large differences in target reachability. We conclude that although global social networks are, in principle, searchable, actual success depends sensitively on individual incentives

 

[tsdragon]

I don't know who they got to participate, but they obviously got people who like participating in studies, and who like emailing.

The authors of this sort of study never seem to take into account that the people who participate do so because they want to. That, in itself, skews the results to a huge degree.

Me, I'm lucky if I can get people to even admit that they know me!


Tracy Dryden

Meddle not in the affairs of dragons,
For you are crunchy, and good with mustard.

 

[jakeyg]

2 of my mates, who don't know each other both joined the same online clan...in australia

small world?

 

[ttmac]

And people wonder how their email addresses end up in the hands of spammers.

Perhaps a more interesting study would be How many of those participating in this study now appear on spammer lists as a direct result of the study?

 

[BillyRayPreachersSon]

From speaking to many Kiwis, it seems that 2 or 3 degrees of separation is the norm. Quite amazing, really.

Dan




[tt]D'ya think I got where I am today because I dress like Peter Pan here?[/tt]

 

[ToniL]

My friend's brother dated a girl whose sister lived next door to a man whose nephew went to school with a boy whose mom worked across the street from Janet Jackson's limo driver...

Does that count?

Peace,
Toni L.

Windows reigns within.
Reflect, repent, and reboot.
Order shall return.

 

[tsdragon]

In case anyone wants to use me in one of these: when I was in high school I lived across the street from director James Cameron.


Tracy Dryden

Meddle not in the affairs of dragons,
For you are crunchy, and good with mustard.

 

[AngelB]

My cousin's friend in university married a first cousin of Kylie Minogue. That's only 4 steps away from Kylie!

Gez



Sorry, did I say something wrong? Pardon me for breathing which I never do anyway so I don't know why I bother to say it Oh God I'm so depressed - Marvin, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

 

[tsdragon]

AngelB: Noticed your sig. Have you heard that there is a HHGTTG moive coming out this month? I saw the first commerical the other night. Looks interesting.


Tracy Dryden

Meddle not in the affairs of dragons,
For you are crunchy, and good with mustard.

 

[Dimandja]

All righty then. I am about 1 step away from Muhammad Ali.

Had lunch next to his table. He got excited and came over to chat, when he heard we were from DR Congo -- this was about a month or so before his fight with George Foreman in the Congo. Alas, I spoke no English then -- my uncle did, and secured me an autograph.

But then, I recently found we lived in the same township.

__________________________________________
Try forum1391 for lively discussions

 

[AngelB]

tsdragon yep, looking forward to the movie. One thing that has put me off it slightly is M J Simpson (Douglas Adams biographer and font of all H2G2 knowledge) has slated it on his website. No punches pulled at all, he hates the thing. I'll still be in the queue though.

Gez



Sorry, did I say something wrong? Pardon me for breathing which I never do anyway so I don't know why I bother to say it Oh God I'm so depressed - Marvin, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

 

[CajunCenturion]

The six degrees of separation concept is interesting, but not really appropos for this forum. Squaring The Circle (forum1229) would be a better fit.

However, about that introductory paragraph -- Can anyone say "run-on sentence" (or two)?

Good Luck
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