Homophily Effect of Academic Achievement on Adolescent Friendship Network Evolution

Abstract

Abstract. The objective is testing the homophily effect of academic achievement on adolescent friendship network evolution. There were 93 boys and 82 girls of high school students participating in this study. Panel data was collected 10 waves during 3 semesters from Sep. 2008 to Jan. 2010. The students were asked to nominate up to 16 intimate classmates. Academic achievement of computer science, mathematics, Chinese, and English was measured in the beginning of 3 semesters. The model was constructed by the program SIENA. The results demonstrated the homophily effect of perceived academic achievement was significant for computer science at the first semester, for mathematics and English at the second semester, and for Chinese at the third semester.