Evidence for the Validity of a Social Connectedness Scale: Connectors Amass Bridging Social Capital Online and Offline

Abstract

One of the key characteristics of effective opinion leaders is that they are highly connected; they know many people and have numerous weak-tie relationships. Two studies were conducted that found evidence consistent with construct validity. The first (N = 35 and N = 57) found that connectors knew more people from a randomly selected list of names. A second study, with two surveys, was created (N = 561 and N = 189) such that the connectedness scores of some of the subjects in the first survey could be linked to how many subjects knew them in the second. Results indicated that those with higher connection scores were more likely to be known by others. Moreover, in the second survey, measures of Facebook use and bridging social capital were found to be associated substantially with connector scores.

Keywords::

• Communication Competence
• New Media
• Opinion Leadership
• Social Networking
• Social Networks

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Christopher J. Carpenter

Christopher J. Carpenter (Ph.D., Michigan State University, 2010) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at Western Illinois University.

Franklin J. Boster

Franklin J. Boster (Ph.D., Michigan State University, 1978) is a Professor in the Department of Communication at Michigan State University.

Michael Kotowski

Michael Kotowski (Ph.D., Michigan State University, 2007) is an Associate Professor in the School of Communication Studies at the University of Tennessee.

Jonathan P. Day

Jonathan P. Day (Ph.D., University of Iowa, 2010) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Western Illinois University.