Social Networks In The Classroom: Personality Factors As Antecedents Of Student Social Capital

Abstract

This study examines personality factors as antecedents of student social capital. We hypothesize relationships between two constructs taken from the five-factor model of personality (agreeableness and extraversion) and two variables that reflect a student’s social capital (quantity of ties and strength of ties) in an academic setting. Analysis of roster-based, sociometric data suggests that agreeableness is associated with higher quantity of ties, but not higher tie strength. In contrast, extraversion is linked to higher tie strength, but not higher overall network size. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of student social capital for educational research and practice.