TABLE 2.

Social network properties—whole network

Network property	Theoretical definition	Operational definition	Rhetorical significance	Mathematical foundation
Centralization	The extent to which the network relies on a single node	Equal to the number of ties that an actor has with other actors and can be visualized as the star nature of the network	Helps to identify “key players” or highly influential individuals	{Σ [(Ci− Cm), (Cj − Cm),(Ck − Cm)…)]}/ (Cmax) = centralization of the network where Ci is the centrality of node i…, Cm is the most central node and Cmax is the maximum possible centrality
Density	Level of connectedness or cohesion of the network.	The number of relational ties divided by the total possible number of relational ties.	Identifies social activity of the network or “popularity” of an individual	n(n − 1)/2 = density of the network where n = number of nodes
Connectedness	Extent to which nodes are in the same central component of the network	Proportion of actor pairs that can reach each other by a path of any length	Indicates the fragility or stability of a network and identifies subgroups	(Σi≠jrij)/n(n − 1) = connectedness of the network where rij = reach of nodes i & j

(Borgatti et al., 2013; Hawe et al., 2004; Otte & Rousseau, 2002; Zohar & Tenne-Gazit, 2008)