A Matter of Proximity: A Case Study on Friendship Network Evolution

Öz

The aim of the study is to identify the factors affecting friendship by analyzing evolution of the highly interactive friendship network structure. For this purpose, friendship data were collected from the first year students of the social work department of Süleyman Demirel University, at the beginning (November 2018) and at the end (June 2019) of the 2018-2019 academic year. The first stage of the research was carried out right after the first data obtained. This paper is the second stage of the research. So that the change of the network structure could be observed with the data collected in two different time plots. Certain variables related to homophily and spatial proximity, which are among the social mechanisms shaping networks, have been examined. Although the existence of a large number of variables affecting friendship is acknowledged, particularly accommodation as structural factor and gender and fellow countrymen (hemşehri) relations on personal factors were analyzed in this research. The main findings are; a) the friendships established at the beginning of the period has generally been stabilized even though the existence of some actor-based exceptions, b) gender homophily is shaping the network structure, c) the citizenship is not meaningful in friendship, d) spatial proximity is meaningful, e) both structural factors (limits) and the personal characteristics are effective in friendship.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Social Networks
• Strong Ties
• Physical Proximity
• Homophily
• Higher Education
• Organization and Management

Bir Mesafe Meselesi: Arkadaşlık Ağlarının Devinimi Üzerine Bir Çalışma

Öz

Bu araştırmanın amacı etkileşimin yüksek olduğu arkadaşlık ağ yapısının devinimini inceleyerek arkadaşlığı etkileyen faktörleri tespit etmektir. Bu amaçla, 2018-2019 eğitim öğretim yılı başında (Kasım 2018) ve sonunda (Haziran 2019), Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi sosyal hizmet bölümü birinci sınıf öğrencilerinden arkadaşlık verileri toplanmıştır. Elde edilen verilerle araştırmanın ilk aşaması gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmanın ikinci aşaması ise bu çalışmadır. Böylece iki farklı zaman diliminde toplanan verilerle ağın değişimi gözlemlenebilmiştir. Ağ yapısını şekillendiren sosyal mekanizmalardan türdeşlik ve fiziksel mesafeyle ilgili belli değişkenler, bağlar üzerinden incelenmiştir. Arkadaşlığı etkileyen çok sayıda değişkenin varlığı kabul edilmekle birlikte, bu araştırmada yapısal faktör olarak barınma, kişisel faktörlerde ise cinsiyet ve hemşehrilik değişkenlerinin arkadaşlığa etkileri analiz edilmiştir. Araştırmanın temel bulguları; a) dönem başında kurulan arkadaşlıkların, belli istisnalar dışında, çoğunluğunun istikrarlı hale gelerek sürdürüldüğü, b) cinsiyet türdeşliğinin ağ yapısını şekillendirdiği, c) hemşehriliğin arkadaşlıkta anlamlı olmadığı, d) mekânsal yakınlığın arkadaşlıkta anlamlı olduğu, e) arkadaşlıkta hem yapısal faktörler (sınırlar), hem de kişisel özelliklerin etkili olduğudur.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Sosyal Ağlar
• Güçlü Bağlar
• Fiziksel Mesafe
• Türdeşlik
• Yükseköğretim
• Örgüt ve Yönetim

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