Status characteristics and expectation states theory: A priori model parameters and test*

We would like to thank Joseph Berger for his encouragement and advice at all stages of the work which led to this paper, and Nita Norman for help in the final editing. However, we alone are responsible for any shortcomings of the paper.

We present a method of obtaining a priori values for the parameters of the mathematical model of the theory of status characteristics and expectation states. The combining function postulated by the model and the path counting rules for graph structures determine the form of the function f(i) which gives the strength of a path as a function of its length. Furthermore, substantive assumptions about the shape of the function f(i) lead to numerical values for the coefficients in the function, so that all parameters are determined. We demonstrate that these parameters fit the available data as well as the empirical parameters do. We also demonstrate that the mathematical model of the theory of status characteristics and expectation states fits quite well the data from twelve experiments conducted since its formulation.

Notes

We would like to thank Joseph Berger for his encouragement and advice at all stages of the work which led to this paper, and Nita Norman for help in the final editing. However, we alone are responsible for any shortcomings of the paper.