Citation

Kochen M. Soc. Netw. 1985; 7(4): 323-339.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1985, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0378-8733(85)90011-5

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Selected steps in progress on the "small world problem" are reviewed, to show the difficulty of finding models that can produce the spectrum of clusters that is observed in contact nets rather than a single large cluster. Empirical work now in progress in the Philippines and in Hong Kong to correlate the structure of the acquaintance nets with rates of economic, political and societal development is presented and related to next steps in modelling. The relation of both empirical and theoretical findings to networking is brought out, as is the potential of computer conferencing for such network-supported applications as the provision of support in health maintenance.