The Reverse Small World Experiment II.
Abstract
This report describes an informant-defined experiment called 'The reverse small world,' or RSW. Our earlier RSW, we presented informants with a list of over 1200 potential targets in a small world experiment. Information was provided on targets' occupation, location, sex and race/ethnicity. Informants (or 'starters' in a small world experiment) provided the name of a friend, relative, or acquaintance whom they felt would be most likely to know the target, or to know someone who might know the target, and so on. In the present experiment, informants were allowed to inquire about any aspect of a target's life before selecting an intermediary. In addition, informants provided us with information about choices. This allows us to test our earlier model of social structure, which we developed as a result of RSW. And it allows us to make much stronger statements about the global structure of (cognitively defined) communications in the U.S. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA074847
Entities
People
- Christopher Mccarty
- H. Russell Bernard
- Peter D. Killworth
Organizations
- West Virginia University