Assortative mixing

Assortative Mixing

Assortative mixing is a concept in network theory that describes the tendency of nodes in a network to connect with other nodes that are similar in some way. This phenomenon is observed in various types of networks, including social, biological, and technological networks.

Types of Assortative Mixing

Assortative mixing can be categorized based on the attributes that define similarity among nodes:

Assortative Mixing by Degree

In assortative mixing by degree, nodes tend to connect with other nodes that have a similar degree. In social networks, for example, individuals with a high number of connections (high degree) are more likely to be connected to other highly connected individuals.

Assortative Mixing by Attribute

This type of assortative mixing occurs when nodes connect based on shared attributes, such as age, gender, or interests. For instance, in a network of friendships, people might be more likely to form connections with others of the same age group.

Measurement of Assortative Mixing

Assortative mixing is often quantified using the assortativity coefficient, which measures the correlation between the degrees of connected nodes. A positive assortativity coefficient indicates assortative mixing, while a negative coefficient indicates disassortative mixing, where nodes tend to connect with dissimilar nodes.

Implications of Assortative Mixing

Assortative mixing has significant implications for the structure and dynamics of networks. In social networks, assortative mixing can lead to the formation of tightly-knit communities or clusters. In epidemiological networks, assortative mixing can affect the spread of diseases, as similar individuals are more likely to interact with each other.

Examples of Assortative Mixing

Social Networks

In social networks, assortative mixing is commonly observed as individuals tend to form connections with others who share similar characteristics, such as socioeconomic status or educational background.

Biological Networks

In biological networks, such as protein interaction networks, assortative mixing can occur when proteins with similar functions or properties are more likely to interact with each other.

Technological Networks

In technological networks, such as the internet, assortative mixing can be seen when websites of similar types or topics are more likely to link to each other.

See Also

• Network theory
• Social network analysis
• Homophily