Who’s in your extended network? Analysing the size and homogeneity of acquaintanceship networks in the Netherlands

Abstract

This study advances the understanding of the size and homogeneity of personal networks, focusing on extended networks that encompass both core discussion ties and the broader array of acquaintances. While previous research has primarily examined these dimensions within small, strong-tie networks, knowledge about extended networks remains limited. Using data from the Dutch Network Size Survey (2021), a representative survey of the Dutch adult population, this study provides novel insights into the size, gender, and educational homogeneity of extended networks, as well as individual variation across these dimensions. Employing the Network Scale-Up Method (NSUM) with an extensive set of scale-up items, we find a median extended network size of 446 and a mean size of 518. Substantial variation exists across individuals, with larger networks associated with being employed, having more household members, being younger, possessing greater resources (e.g., income, wealth), and attaining higher levels of education. Additionally, our findings reveal significant gender and educational segregation within extended networks. These results shed light on the structure of extended networks and highlight the social stratification of network size and homogeneity.