The messages tracked by the researchers were instant messages (like MSN Messenger) which involves mainly one-on-one conversations between individuals (although you can sometimes bring others into such a conversation). The number of people with which a person is likely to have messaged is likely to be much smaller than the number who have been touched by one of their e-mails to a discussion list like TIPS.
Rick Dr. Rick Froman, Chair Division of Humanities and Social Sciences John Brown University Siloam Springs, AR 72761 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ________________________________________ From: Allen Esterson [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2008 3:21 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: [tips] Microsoft prove there are just six degrees of separation between us | Technology | The Observer On 2 August 2008 Chris Green wrote: > The "six degrees" theory apparently holds up, even in the > electronic age. > http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/aug/03/internet.email Surely the advent of electonic mailing has appreciably *increased* the probability of such connections. I "know" far more people in recent years than previously -- just think of all the TIPsters for starters! Doesn't this work undertaken by Microsoft researchers imply that before the advent of large-scale emailing the "six degrees" theory was an overstatement? >From the Guardian article: "But yesterday researchers announced the theory was right - nearly. By studying billions of electronic messages, they worked out that any two strangers are, on average, distanced by precisely 6.6 degrees of separation." Allen Esterson Former lecturer, Science Department Southwark College, London http://www.esterson.org --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
