Simulation Research on Social Exchange Networks

描述和分析个人、组织和其他社会行为者之间的关系是一个核心的社会学问题。网络分析允许记录和研究在社会制度之间以及在个人之间发生的交易。这项拟议的研究考察了许多网络交换理论，并将使用计算机模拟来比较、测试、扩展和整合网络内联系的替代理论。目标是了解信息和资源在各种环境(如社会团体或大型组织)中是如何交换的。一方面，网络交换理论已经显示出在广泛的现实生活背景下具有巨大的潜在解释力的迹象。另一方面，理论是在近乎完全孤立的情况下产生的。测试替代范式的工作仍有待完成。因此，这项研究可以为网络交换模拟和研究的进一步发展提供宝贵的见解。

The description and analysis of relationships among individuals, organizations and other social actors is a central sociological issue. Network analysis permits the documentation and study of transactions which take place among social systems as well as among individuals. The proposed research examines a number of network exchange theories, and will use computer simulations to compare, test, extend, and integrate alternative theories of linkages within networks. The goal is to understand how information and resources are exchanged in a variety of settings, such as social groups or large organizations. Network exchange theorizing has, on the one hand, shown signs of having great potential explanatory power in a wide range of real life contexts. On the other hand, theories are spawned in near complete isolation. The work of testing alternative paradigms remains to be done. This study, therefore, can offer insights that will be invaluable to the further development of network exchange simulations and research.