Student peer networks : a study of tie formation and the impact of diversity in higher education
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- Social scientific research on racial/ethnic diversity in higher education finds positive links between diversity of student interactions and a wide range of educational outcomes. Previous research, however, fails to characterize beneficial peer relations and the factors that influence interaction, thus leaving little practical guidance for colleges and universities to maximize the benefits of diversity. In this study, I map concepts from network theory and organizational sociology onto a theory of the impact of race and ethnicity in higher education to better specify the microsociological contexts of diverse interaction. With this conceptual framework I analyze network data on undergraduates living in six dormitories on a single college campus to identify factors that influence tie formation and network characteristics of ties that are associated with diversity benefits. Using exponential random graphs to model tie formation and regression to model the impact of diverse ties on educational outcomes previous associated with diversity, I find that net of homophily, other pre-college factors and organizational memberships, informal activity foci are the key determinants of tie formation, while strong tie diversity is related to the availability of cross-race partners. I further find that the racial/ethnic diversity of strong ties is associated with affective outcomes including democratic values, and the experience of difference in peer relations. Finally, weak tie diversity is positively associated with GPA measures.
Description
| Type of resource | text |
|---|---|
| Form | electronic; electronic resource; remote |
| Extent | 1 online resource. |
| Publication date | 2012 |
| Issuance | monographic |
| Language | English |
Creators/Contributors
| Associated with | Clarke, Christopher Gonzalez |
|---|---|
| Associated with | Stanford University, School of Education. |
| Primary advisor | Antonio, Anthony Lising, 1966- |
| Thesis advisor | Antonio, Anthony Lising, 1966- |
| Thesis advisor | Gumport, Patricia J |
| Thesis advisor | McFarland, Daniel |
| Advisor | Gumport, Patricia J |
| Advisor | McFarland, Daniel |
Subjects
| Genre | Theses |
|---|
Bibliographic information
| Statement of responsibility | Christopher Gonzalez Clarke. |
|---|---|
| Note | Submitted to the School of Education. |
| Thesis | Thesis (Ph.D.)--Stanford University, 2012. |
| Location | electronic resource |
Access conditions
- Copyright
- © 2012 by Christopher Gonzalez Clarke
- License
- This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 3.0 Unported license (CC BY-NC).
Also listed in
Loading usage metrics...