Network Decline in the Internet Era: Evidence from Ghana, Kenya, and India, 1994-2010

• Authors: Wesley Shrum , Antony Palackal , Dan-Bright S. Dzorgbo , Paul Mbatia , Mark Schafer , Paige Miller , Heather Rackin
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Has the size of personal networks changed since the invention of the Internet? We use a unique longitudinal survey during the primary period of Internet diffusion in Africa and Asia to address three questions. First, has the overall size of professional networks changed? Second, has there been a shift in the kinds of relationships people maintain? Third, are there identifiable patterns in the nature of the shifts over time? We analyze data on nine professional linkages reported by a population of scientists and educators in Kenya, Ghana, and the Indian State of Kerala over a sixteen year period (1994-2010). Results show that extended personal networks experienced a dramatic decline during the initial diffusion of new communication technologies, followed by partial recovery. An increase in collaboration has been accompanied by a decline in friendship.

Keywords

EN

Internet; science; friendship; collaboration; ICTs; social networks

• Publisher: Sciendo
• Journal: International Review of Social Research
• Year: 2016
• Volume: 6
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 163-171

Dates

published

2016-10-01

received

2016-04-09

accepted

2016-09-10

online

2016-11-17

Contributors

author

Wesley Shrum

• Louisiana State University

author

Antony Palackal

• Loyola College of Social Sciences

author

Dan-Bright S. Dzorgbo

• University of Ghana

author

Paul Mbatia

• University of Nairobi

author

Mark Schafer

• Louisiana State University

author

Paige Miller

• University of Wisconsin

author

Heather Rackin

• Louisiana State University

Identifiers

DOI

10.1515/irsr-2016-0019