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Networking Strategies and Efficiency in Human Communication Networks

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Complex Networks and Their Applications VII (COMPLEX NETWORKS 2018)

Part of the book series: Studies in Computational Intelligence ((SCI,volume 813))

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Abstract

Individuals communicate with each other strategically to improve their access to information and to capitalize on social connections in attaining personal and professional goals. Yet, we know little about how specific networking strategies impact the efficiency of communication networks both at a global and local level. Here, we perform data-driven computer simulations that examine the effect of two predominant networking strategies: (i) structural change, involving addition and deletion of communication channels and (ii) frequency change, involving increase or decrease of communication on existing channels. In our proposed framework, these two strategies encompass the spectrum of exploring new connections and exploiting existing ones, and are implemented based on the generic social processes of interaction reciprocity and triadic closure. Three main results emerge from our simulations. First, our structural and frequency change strategies designed to reflect human behavior differ from null models represented by random strategies. Second, they have distinct effects on global and local efficiency. Third, these strategies work consistently across heterogeneous network structures and various network evolution scenarios. Taken together, our findings reassess conventional wisdom about the effectiveness of networking strategies and introduce novel frameworks to study the impact of networking via modeling approaches informed by social and communication theory.

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Acknowledgement

This research was partly supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. IIS-1755873. The authors would like to thank Zachary Gibson and Nick Hagar for their comments on an earlier version of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA

    Kyosuke Tanaka & Emőke-Ágnes Horvát

Authors
  1. Kyosuke Tanaka
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  2. Emőke-Ágnes Horvát
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Emőke-Ágnes Horvát .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Nokia Bell Labs, Cambridge, UK

    Luca Maria Aiello

  2. IUT Lumière, University of Lyon, Bron Cedex, France

    Chantal Cherifi

  3. LE2I UMR CNRS 6306 9, University of Burgundy, Dijon Cedex, France

    Hocine Cherifi

  4. Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    Renaud Lambiotte

  5. Department of Computer Science and Technology, The Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Pietro Lió

  6. Center for Complex Networks and Systems Research, School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA

    Luis M. Rocha

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Tanaka, K., Horvát, EÁ. (2019). Networking Strategies and Efficiency in Human Communication Networks. In: Aiello, L., Cherifi, C., Cherifi, H., Lambiotte, R., Lió, P., Rocha, L. (eds) Complex Networks and Their Applications VII. COMPLEX NETWORKS 2018. Studies in Computational Intelligence, vol 813. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05414-4_21

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