`nwsimmelian`

Calculate Simmelian ties

Syntax

nwsimmelian 
[netname]
[,
name(newnetname)
nwreplace]


`name(newnetname)`	Save Simmelian ties as new network; default _simmelian

Description

Simmelian ties are concerned with more than just the strength of the relationship (see Krackhardt 1998). The original concept looks at the number of strong, reciprocated ties within a group: for a simmelian tie to exist, there must be three (a triad) or more of reciprocal strong ties in a group, viewed as even stronger than a regular strong tie. This command implements the reciprocated-triad structure only - it does not apply any tie-strength/value threshold (see Supported network types below); a weak reciprocated tie in a closed triad is flagged identically to a strong one.

For example, if Adam has a (reciprocated) tie to Betty, and both Adam and Betty share a (reciprocated) tie to Charles, this three-way tie would be a simmelian one.

The concept of a Simmelian tie is related to that of a clique; each pair of nodes (individuals) in a clique has a Simmelian tie between them. Thus a simmelian tie can be defined as a basic tie in a clique, or a co-clique relationship (between individuals who belong to a specific clique).

Examples

. nwwebuse florentine, nwclear
. nwsimmelian flomarriage
. nwplot flomarriage, edgecolor(_simmelian)

Supported network types

Binary: yes (only) - uses get_matrix_unvalued() throughout; a weak tie and a strong tie in an otherwise-identical closed triad are both flagged as Simmelian identically, despite this command’s own documentation describing the concept in “strong tie” language (a known doc/implementation gap, not yet resolved - see the alpha audit’s own finding). Directed: yes - reciprocity is checked directly (a tie must be mutual to participate at all), matching the concept’s own directed-advice-network origin (Krackhardt 1999); on an undirected network reciprocity is automatically satisfied by every existing tie. Weighted: not applicable. Signed: not applicable. Two-mode: not checked.

References

Krackhardt, D. (1999). The ties that torture: Simmelian tie analysis in organizations. Research in the Sociology of Organizations (16), 183-210.

nwsimmelian