Average Distance, Diameter, and Clustering in Social Networks with Homophily

2008/10/15 by Matthew O. Jackson, Jackson, Matthew O.
Decision Sciences · Physics and Astronomy · #Complex Network Analysis Techniques #Data Analysis #FOS: Physical sciences #Game Theory and Applications #Opinion Dynamics and Social Influence #Physics and Society (physics.soc-ph) #Statistics and Probability (physics.data-an)

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.0810.2603

openalex publication_date 2008/10/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

I examine a random network model where nodes are categorized by type and linking probabilities can differ across types. I show that as homophily increases (so that the probability to link to other nodes of the same type increases and the probability of linking to nodes of some other types decreases) the average distance and diameter of the network are unchanged, while the average clustering in the network increases.

Citations

• Birds of a Feather: Homophily in Social Networks

Related

• How Homophily Affects Diffusion and Learning in Networks
• Homophily and Long-Run Integration in Social Networks
• Homophily in Complex Networks: Measures, Models, and Applications
• Homophily Within and Across Groups
• From Acquaintances to Friends: Homophily and Learning in Networks