Hi Although the population sampled is not random and might lead to low estimates of distance between people, it would also be worth noting that computer connected is only one form of connection between people, which would lead to high estimates of distance. How one could operationally measure more diverse forms of connection could be challenging.
Take care Jim James M. Clark Professor of Psychology 204-786-9757 204-774-4134 Fax [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> "Jim Clark" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 03-Aug-08 2:47 PM >>> Hi To elaborate on Michael's point, the sampling of the human population in Microsoft's demonstration is highly biased ... owners of computers, users of instance messaging, .... The massive size of the sample is absolutely no compensation for the bias. Might be a good example to use for the importance of random sampling, along with the Dewey election predictions. As a separate point, I wonder if they could have demonstrated their results with a much smaller, random sample of messages. Although it is possible that the study of large networks does not benefit as much from random sampling as the study of individual units. Take care Jim James M. Clark Professor of Psychology 204-786-9757 204-774-4134 Fax [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> Michael Smith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 03-Aug-08 11:51 AM >>> I have never looked into it, and I haven't read the book, but I find it very hard to believe that someone who lets say lived and died in the hills of Kentucky without leaving a local geographical area (with no phone or computer of course) would be 6 to 7 introductions away from a nomad who lived and died in the mountains of Afghanistan in a similar small geographic area. It sounds like one of those things which are based on certain assumptions which may not be true (or the math is so exotic people just assume *they* must be correct). --Mike --- On Sun, 8/3/08, Christopher D. Green <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: From: Christopher D. Green <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [tips] Microsoft prove there are just six degrees of separation between us | Technology | The Observer To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" <[email protected]> Date: Sunday, August 3, 2008, 7:36 AM Allow me to recommend, once again, the book _Linked: How Everything in Connected to Everything Else, and What It Means for Business, Sciences, and Everyday Life_ by Albert-Laszlo Barabasi. Despite the somewhat new-agey, holistic title, it is actually about mathematical network theory, and has all kinds of applications to the "real world," especially in the internet age. By the way, the "six degrees" idea did not originate with Milgram, as many psychologists like to believe. It instead dates back to a Hungarian author of the 1920s. Regards, Chris -- Christopher D #yiv622258729 p.p1 {margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;font:16.0px Times New Roman;} #yiv622258729 p.p2 {margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;font:16.0px Times New Roman;min-height:18.0px;} #yiv622258729 p.p3 {margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;font:12.0px Helvetica;} #yiv622258729 span.s1 {font:16.0px Lucida Grande;} Christopher D. Green Department of Psychology York University Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 Canada 416-736-2100 ex. 66164 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.yorku.ca/christo/ ========================= Allen Esterson wrote: 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]) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
