Social Exchange Networks: A Review of Experimental Studies

Abstract

This article surveys laboratory experiments on social exchange networks. The method of laboratory experiments is prominent in this field. The various theoretical perspectives informing the experiments are grouped into three approaches: the first, dominated by network-exchange theory, is mainly concerned with power and structure, the second discusses social-psychological approaches and emphasizes behavioral and psychological dimensions such as reciprocity, emotions and cohesion, and the third is concerned with game-theoretic experiments embedded in network structures.

The paradox of agency: Feeling powerful reduces brokerage opportunity recognition yet increases willingness to broker.

“…Brokerage theory builds on the long tradition of work concerning social interactions among a triad of three people (e.g., Cartwright & Harary, 1956; Heider, 1958). The broker is the third who benefits from connecting two otherwise disconnected people (Simmel, 1950) by controlling the flow of resources between them (Cook & Whitmeyer, 1992; Neuhofer, Kittel, & Reindl, 2016; Yamagishi, Gillmore, & Cook, 1988). In the traditional structural view, “social structure can dominate motivation” (Granovetter, 2005, p. 34): People who may be motivated to broker are unable to do so unless they occupy a brokerage position in an open triad in which they connect otherwise disconnected individuals.…”

Handbook of Sociological Science: Contributions to Rigorous Sociology

“…The hypotheses derived from these games have been frequently tested via laboratory experiments (Cook & Cooper 2003), but also through alternative designs such as surveys and vignette experiments (see for an extensive overview of research in experimental game theory). Experiments, particularly laboratory experiments, in sociology have proven to be a valuable tool for testing and further developing theories on factors like those mentioned above and therefore for the further development of social exchange theory and social network analysis (Neuhofer et al 2016). Most experiments on networks and social exchange build on the experimental setup introduced by Cook et al (1983), which studies the relationship between (exogenous) network structure and the division of power in the network.…”

“…However, a challenge for experimental studies on social exchange theory is to consider more realistic and thus more complex dimensions of exchange networks. Neuhofer et al (2016) suggest the use of social media and other online networks to capture this complexity. Moreover, doing so provides an opportunity for developing further the 'limited' existing theories.…”