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16
Extending Classification
ofSocial Networks
throughIndirect Friendships
16.1 INTRODUCTON
Within social network analysis, one of the most frequently referenced properties is that of homophily—
that is, the tendency of individuals to form direct connections with those who are most like them.
However, in some medical research, studies have shown that some behaviors and attitudes, such as
smoking cessation, tend to propagate out from a regional focus. This nding contradicts the central
assumptions that are used when performing relational classication. One reason for these assump-
tions is that they allow us to complete full-network calculations ...