Check-ins in “Blau Space”

Abstract

Peter Blau was one of the first to define a latent social space and utilize it to provide concrete hypotheses. Blau defines social structure via social “parameters” (constraints). Actors that are closer together (more homogenous) in this social parameter space are more likely to interact. One of Blau’s most important hypotheses resulting from this work was that the consolidation of parameters could lead to isolated social groups. For example, the consolidation of race and income might lead to segregation. In the present work, we use Foursquare data from New York City to explore evidence of homogeneity along certain social parameters and consolidation that breeds social isolation in communities of locations checked in to by similar users.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Sep 18, 2014
Source ID
10.1145/2566617

Entities

People

  • Jason I. Hong
  • Kathleen Carley
  • Kenneth Joseph

Organizations

  • Carnegie Mellon University
  • Office of Naval Research

Tags

Readers

  • Agent-Based Social Robotics and Mobile-Assisted Learning in Virtual Environments.
  • Regression Analysis.
  • Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Care for Military Service Members and Veterans with Limb Loss or Disability.

Technology Areas

  • Space