Sunbelt XXXI International Network for Social Network ... - INSNA

Rumoring In Informal Online Communication NetworksSpiro, Emma S.; Acton, Ryan M.; Sutton, Jeannette; Greczek, Matt; Butts, Carter T.Online Social NetworksCommunication Networks, Disaster Response, Online NetworksTHURS.PM1Informal exchange of information, including gossip and rumor, is a characteristic human behavior. Literature suggests both mundane and importantinformation are exchanged via social ties. In this work we explore rumoring about the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill occurring on a popular micro‐bloggingservice. In particular we evaluate the extent to which possible rumor determinants ‐‐ the perceived importance, degree of cognitive unclarity, and relevance tobehavior of the topic ‐‐ affect the volume of information exchanged via the social network. This work is also of practical concern because, as past workindicates, informal communication ties are often the primary means by which time‐sensitive hazard information first reaches members of the public. Changesin local network structure during the event are also discussed.School Networks And Integration Of Migrant Children In Russian SchoolsIvaniushina, Valeria ; Alexandrov, DanielAdolescent Friendship NetworksAdolescents, Migration, Schools, Friendship, p2 modelWED.PM2The paper presents preliminary results from our ongoing project on children from migrant families in Russian schools. The work is based on two originalsurveys: pilot survey in 2009 (22 schools, 66 classes, 1,200 students) and large survey in 2010 (104 schools, 409 classes, 7300 students). We measure ethnicity,language use, migration history, academic effort, grades, pro/anti‐school attitudes etc. Social network approach (analysis of classroom friendships) is used as atool for measuring social inclusion / exclusion. School, along with the neighborhood, is the most immediate environment of the integration of youth. Students’integration can be measured by many different ways, in particular: (a) through attitude questions on self‐perceived popularity and/or sense of belonging; (b)through analysis of actual relations and choice of friends. We measure both aspects, and our research questions are: how ethnicity (controlled for backgroundcharacteristics ‐‐ gender and socio‐economic status) influences the choice of friends; whether ethnicity influences student’s position in a classroom network;how ethnicity influences relations between self‐perceived popularity and actual network position. We use multi‐level p2 models and multivariate statistics. Ourfindings are in accordance with the results of similar surveys in Belgium and the Netherlands (Baerveldt e.a., 2007; Vermeij e.a., 2009). For example, in Russiathe ‘majority’ students are ‘ethnically blind’ in their choices of friends while children from ethnic minorities more frequently choose friends from ethnicminorities, but not necessarily of their own ethnicity.