Centrality

Centrality metrics are metrics in (social) network analysis that are used to identify the significance of nodes in a network. In this entry, the centrality metrics are defined and contextualized in network research. Three variants of centrality metrics, which are especially prevalent in the literature, are discussed in detail: degree centrality, betweenness centrality, and closeness centrality. The existence of alternative calculations and metrics based on the presented centrality measures are also discussed.

Many studies in network analysis endeavor to describe the structure of networks or investigate how different positions of nodes within these structures lead to certain outcomes for these nodes. For example, one may describe and compare social structures within different classes of a school in a study about classroom climate, or one may analyze ...

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