The size and composition of personal networks in a voluntary association

Weak social ties, a consequential but neglected part of personal networks, are often formed in voluntary associations. Higher status people tend to benefit by gaining larger numbers of weak ties to other high status people, because they join more associations. They may have further advantages within associations, but the genesis of weak ties within associations is largely unstudied. This paper reports the effects of status and of association-specific variables on the number and status composition of ties within an association chosen to set the lower bounds on status effects. Given the special conditions in this type of association, status effects are virtually nonexistent. The more people participate in association activities, and the better they perform, the more ties they acquire. There is little status homophily, especially for very weak ties and for forms of status that are not innnediately observable