The Longitudinal Effect of Self-Monitoring and Locus of Control on Social Network Position in Friendship Networks

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to identify how enduring personality characteristics predict a person's location in a network, locations which in turn affect outcomes such as performance. Specifically, this thesis examines how self-monitoring and locus of control influence an individual's location in a friendship social network over time. Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) was used to analyze 28 groups of students and instructors at a military training course over six and one half weeks. Self-monitoring predicted betweenness centrality in five of six time periods while locus of control predicted betweenness centrality in three of six time periods. The moderation of self-monitoring on locus of control also determines social network centrality. A longitudinal analysis suggested that self-monitoring was not related to the rate of increase of centrality over time. Organizational leaders may benefit in better identifying influential social network employees by their personality make-up and assigning them where their impact will be most valuable.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2006
Accession Number
ADA446188

Entities

People

  • Gary J. Moore

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Boundaries
  • Business Administration
  • Education
  • Friendship
  • Group Dynamics
  • Human Behavior
  • Instructors
  • Military Education
  • Military Training
  • Personality
  • Psychology
  • Social Environment
  • Social Networks
  • Social Psychology
  • Students
  • Training

Readers

  • Computer Networking
  • Distributed Systems and Data Platform Development
  • Military Leadership and Professional Education.