Structural cohesion
Encyclopedia
Structural cohesion is the sociological conception
of cohesion
in social groups. It is defined as the minimal number of actors in a social network that need to be removed to disconnect at least two actors in the remaining group. It is thus identical to the question of the node connectivity
of a given graph. The solution to the boundary problem for structural cohesion, i.e., the question whether there is a single actor that acts as a bridge between two groups, is thus found by the vertex-cut version of Menger's theorem
. The boundaries of structural endogamy
are a special case of structural cohesion. It is also useful to know that k-cohesive graphs (or k-components) are always a subgraph of a k-core, although a k-core is not always k-cohesive. A k-core is simply a subgraph in which all nodes have at least k neighbors but it need not even be connected.
. This wiki site provides numerous examples and a tutorial for use with R.
in groups. In 1990, Bollen and Hoyle used the PCS and applied it to a study of large groups which were used to assess the psychometric qualities of their scale.
of cohesion
Cohesion
Cohesion may refer to:* Cohesion , the intermolecular attraction between like-molecules* Cohesion , a measure of how well the lines of source code within a module work together...
in social groups. It is defined as the minimal number of actors in a social network that need to be removed to disconnect at least two actors in the remaining group. It is thus identical to the question of the node connectivity
Connectivity (graph theory)
In mathematics and computer science, connectivity is one of the basic concepts of graph theory: it asks for the minimum number of elements which need to be removed to disconnect the remaining nodes from each other. It is closely related to the theory of network flow problems...
of a given graph. The solution to the boundary problem for structural cohesion, i.e., the question whether there is a single actor that acts as a bridge between two groups, is thus found by the vertex-cut version of Menger's theorem
Menger's theorem
In the mathematical discipline of graph theory and related areas, Menger's theorem is a basic result about connectivity in finite undirected graphs. It was proved for edge-connectivity and vertex-connectivity by Karl Menger in 1927...
. The boundaries of structural endogamy
Structural endogamy
Structural endogamy is a network concept that provides a means of finding the boundaries of endogamy in a community, using simply the genealogical and marriage linkages. The concept is related to that of structural cohesion. The examples are made with free tool...
are a special case of structural cohesion. It is also useful to know that k-cohesive graphs (or k-components) are always a subgraph of a k-core, although a k-core is not always k-cohesive. A k-core is simply a subgraph in which all nodes have at least k neighbors but it need not even be connected.
Software
Cohesive.blocking is the R program for computing structural cohesion according to the Moody-White (2003) algorithmAlgorithm
In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm is an effective method expressed as a finite list of well-defined instructions for calculating a function. Algorithms are used for calculation, data processing, and automated reasoning...
. This wiki site provides numerous examples and a tutorial for use with R.
Perceived cohesion
Perceived Cohesion Scale (PCS) is a six item scale that is used to measure structural cohesionStructural cohesion
Structural cohesion is the sociological conception of cohesion in social groups. It is defined as the minimal number of actors in a social network that need to be removed to disconnect at least two actors in the remaining group. It is thus identical to the question of the node connectivity of a...
in groups. In 1990, Bollen and Hoyle used the PCS and applied it to a study of large groups which were used to assess the psychometric qualities of their scale.
See also
- Community cohesionCommunity cohesionCommunity cohesion refers to the aspect of togetherness and bonding exhibited by members of a community, the "glue" that holds a community together...
- Social cohesionSocial cohesionSocial cohesion is a term used in social policy, sociology and political science to describe the bonds or "glue" that bring people together in society, particularly in the context of cultural diversity. Social cohesion is a multi-faceted notion covering many different kinds of social phenomena...
- Social networkSocial networkA social network is a social structure made up of individuals called "nodes", which are tied by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as friendship, kinship, common interest, financial exchange, dislike, sexual relationships, or relationships of beliefs, knowledge or prestige.Social...
- Social-circles network modelSocial-circles network modelThe generative model of feedback networks , studied by White, Kejžar, Tsallis, Farmer, or social-circles network model, defines a class of random graphs generated by simple processes that are common to edge formation and feedback loops in social circles...