Navigation in a small world
Abstract
The small-world phenomenon - the principle that most of us are linked by short chains of acquaintances - was first investigated as a question in sociology and is a feature of a range of networks arising in nature and technology. Experimental study of the phenomenon revealed that it has two fundamental components: first, such short chains are ubiquitous, and second, individuals operating with purely local information are very adept at finding these chains. The first issue has been analysed, and here I investigate the second by modelling how individuals can find short chains in a large social network.
- Publication:
-
Nature
- Pub Date:
- August 2000
- DOI:
- 10.1038/35022643
- Bibcode:
- 2000Natur.406..845K