Exploring dynamic networks: hypotheses and conjectures

Abstract Previously, theories of network exchange and their applications focused only on static configurations. The purpose of this paper is to show that exchange networks with dynamic structures can be analyzed using Network Exchange Theory (NET) even though that theory was developed with only static networks in mind. The Exchange Seek Likelihood (ESL) and Optimal-Seek methods of NET are used. Hypotheses, which focus on network dynamics from the perspective of the network as a whole and from the perspective of individual actors, are both considered. The only previous paper on exchange networks with dynamic structures is that of Leik [Leik, Robert K. 1992. New directions for NET: stategic manipulation of network linkages. Social Networks. 14: 309– 324.]. Since the issues he considered continue to be significant, we use his paper to guide our analysis, offering new hypotheses and conjectures for the issues he considered.

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