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Why Can’t We Be Friends? Exploring Short-term Peer Selection and Peer Influence Dynamics Using Longitudinal Social Network Analysis

Peterson, Samuel
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1505124845051989

Abstract Details

2017, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services: Criminal Justice.
Decades of criminological research have pointed to peers and peer groups as sources of and conduits for delinquency. Often, however, there has been a lack of clarity about the role of peers. This lack of clarity concerns whether the respondent delinquency-peer delinquency correlation results from peer influence or peer selection. Recently, the use of longitudinal social network analysis has provided valuable insights that have strengthened our understanding of peer selection and peer influence. While researchers often find evidence of both selection and influence generally, less inquiry has focused on the conditions in which peer influence is more or less likely, and whether differences exist across behaviors. The first question for this dissertation concerns whether students select friends based on their similarity in marijuana use, alcohol use, and bullying. Next, it assesses whether students are influenced by the behavior of their peers. Additionally, it examines whether potential peer or personal characteristics moderate these selection and influence effects. Using five waves the Teenage Networks in Schools (TEENS) dataset, a bi-weekly survey of a 9th grade cohort, this study found evidence of considerable short-term change in students’ friendships, marijuana use, alcohol use, and bullying. The results show that students selected friends based on similarity in sex/gender and approval of delinquency, rather than similarity in marijuana use, alcohol use, or bullying. Additionally, there was no evidence of peer influence across any of the dependent variables. Prior school year behavior, however, was a significant predictor of behavior during this short-term study. Lastly, there was weak evidence to suggest popularity (negative effect) and unstructured socializing (positive effect) may be important moderators of marijuana use selection and bullying influence, respectively. Theoretical as well as practical implications of these findings are discussed, along with limitations of this study and future directions for research.
Pamela Wilcox, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Graham C. Ousey, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Bonnie Sue Fisher, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Christopher Sullivan, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
250 p.
Criminology
Delinquency; Social Network Analysis; Peer Influence; Social Learning

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Peterson, S. (2017). Why Can’t We Be Friends? Exploring Short-term Peer Selection and Peer Influence Dynamics Using Longitudinal Social Network Analysis [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1505124845051989

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Peterson, Samuel. Why Can’t We Be Friends? Exploring Short-term Peer Selection and Peer Influence Dynamics Using Longitudinal Social Network Analysis. 2017. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1505124845051989.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Peterson, Samuel. "Why Can’t We Be Friends? Exploring Short-term Peer Selection and Peer Influence Dynamics Using Longitudinal Social Network Analysis." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1505124845051989

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1505124845051989
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© 2017, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.