Egocentric network size, network heterogeneity and social integration in Hungary Cover Image

Az egyéni kapcsolathálók nagysága, heterogenitása és a társadalmi integráció Magyarországon
Egocentric network size, network heterogeneity and social integration in Hungary

Author(s): Márton Gerő, Gábor Hajdu
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Sociology
Published by: MTA TK Szociológiai Intézet
Keywords: egocentric network; social integration; trust; participation

Summary/Abstract: In this paper, our aim is to describe the relevant problems and literature of the relationship between size and heterogeneity of the ego network and social integration. Moreover, as the first step of a subsequent, more detailed research, we wish to give an illustrative analysis about this relationship, using nationally representative databases from Hungary. On the one hand, we define social integration as cooperative behaviour of individuals and as solidarity between them. On the other hand, social disintegration is characterized with low levels of generalized and institutional trust, lack of solidarity and lack of norm conformity. At the individual level, integration can be defined as subjective integration, whereas disintegration is perceived as social exclusion from society. Our results show that the size and heterogeneity of the egocentric network associated positively with external (objective) indicators of social integration (participation, trust), while the correlation between these variables and subjective integration is less clear and has an opposite direction or there is no correlation at all. These results confirm that our research questions deserve further, more detailed analysis.

  • Issue Year: 5/2015
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 12-33
  • Page Count: 22
  • Language: Hungarian