A Graph-Theoretical Analysis of Student Friendship Networks Across Senior High School Tracks in a Public School Using Gephi Software
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70922/z4mt8s20Keywords:
Graph theory, Gephi, social network analysis, student friendships, senior high school, nodes, edgesAbstract
To effectively promote inclusiveness and cooperation in a diverse school setting, it is crucial to grasp the dynamics of friendship formation among students. This study applied the principles of graph theory and social network analysis to investigate the friendship patterns of senior high school students in a school in the City of Malolos. It aimed to describe connection patterns, identify key bridging individuals, and assess the overall cohesiveness of the department’s social structure. The study employed peer nomination techniques to gather data from 597 students. The data were analyzed using the Gephi software package. The results of the study showed that every student has, on average, five close ties, resulting in a moderately dense but highly interconnected network. The modularity value of 0.678 revealed strong natural clustering along the academic strands, with inter-strand ties still visible. The centrality analysis revealed students who act as bridging actors to facilitate communication across the groups. The study concludes that the overall network structure is balanced and inclusive despite the divisions along the academic strands.
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