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6 Degrees Of Separation Formula:
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The 6 Degrees of Separation theory suggests that any two people in the world are connected through a chain of no more than six acquaintances. This calculator estimates the average degrees of separation in a social network based on network size and branching factor.
The calculator uses the small world model formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates how many steps are needed on average to connect any two individuals in a network, based on the network's size and how well-connected people are.
Details: Understanding degrees of separation helps analyze social connectivity, information flow, disease spread, and social influence patterns in networks ranging from small communities to global populations.
Tips: Enter the total number of people in the network and the average number of contacts each person maintains. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero.
Q1: What is the original "6 degrees" theory based on?
A: The theory originated from Stanley Milgram's 1967 small-world experiment where participants successfully sent packages to strangers through acquaintances with an average of six intermediaries.
Q2: What is a typical branching factor in social networks?
A: In real social networks, branching factors typically range from 50-200 contacts per person, though this varies greatly by culture, age, and personality.
Q3: How accurate is this mathematical model?
A: The model provides a theoretical estimate. Real-world networks may have different separation due to clustering, hubs, and varying connection patterns.
Q4: Does this apply to online social networks?
A: Yes, studies show Facebook has about 3.57 degrees of separation, while Twitter has around 4.12 degrees, demonstrating even smaller worlds online.
Q5: What factors affect degrees of separation?
A: Network size, connectivity patterns, presence of highly connected individuals (hubs), and clustering coefficients all influence actual separation distances.