A note on the general social survey's ersatz network density item

Abstract Data obtained with the GSS ersatz network density item are compared to density data obtained with the more traditional, more costly, GSS sociometric network items. The inexpensive ersatz density data are not independent of network density, but they are almost completely unreliable. The full range of possible densities occurs at each level of ersatz density and only 1 to 2 percent of variation in network density can be described with ersatz density. Hypotheses operationalized with the ersatz density variable specified as a predictor will be biased toward the null hypothesis. Given this GSS experiment, the reliability of conclusions from studies replacing sociometric network items with inexpensive items purposing to measure network structure directly should be interpreted with caution.