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centrality

centrality

1 7.6
How important a part of a network is, often shown by its number of connections
  • noun
  • /ˌsɛntrˈælɪti/
  • Specialized
translation icon : centralidad
  • In network analysis, a node's centrality can indicate its influence over the flow of information.
  • network centrality
  • betweenness centrality
  • social centrality

If you're the mayor of a small town, you have high degree centrality, but probably nothing beyond that.

Examples

  • If you're the mayor of a small town, you have high degree centrality, but probably nothing beyond that.

  • High social network centrality was associated with high levels of popularity among girls.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Among boys, however, high social network centrality was associated with high levels of aggressive behavior.

    Academic text (1999)
  • For each hospital, we calculated the following centrality measures: Degree: a hospital's total number of connections.

    Academic text (2011)
  • All clusters were included in the analysis regardless of the cluster's centrality in the social network.

    Academic text (1994)
  • Four levels of social network centrality were possible: nuclear, secondary, peripheral, or isolated.

    Academic text (1994)
  • Additionally, social network centrality was positively associated with peer assessments of athletic ability.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Forty-four clusters had high social network centrality, 34 had medium, and 13 had low.

    Academic text (1994)
  • For Classroom A, two high-centrality clusters were identified, and each member's centrality within the clusters was determined.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Next, I analyze structural properties of the graph G, such as betweenness centrality, cutpoints, and neighborhood.

    Academic text (1993)

Synonyms

betweenness
vscentrality
  • Specialized
8.9

How often a point is on the shortest path between other points, showing its influence in the network

is the broader prominence property that this measure helps to quantify
closeness
vscentrality
  • Specialized
9.1

How near a point is to all other points in a network

is the general prominence property measured by this nearness metric

Antonyms

16 6.5

Not as important as the main point

11 4.7

At the edge of something, for example land by a river

How Central

centrality
  • Specialized
1 7.6
to hub
  • Specialized
1 6.3
betweenness
  • Specialized
8.9
intermediary
35 6.8
periphery
27 6.5

Surface Forms

centrality singular
centralities plural

Morphology

centrality = central (transparent) = central + ity

Formed by adding the noun-forming suffix '-ity' to 'central'; the network-analytic sense is a technical application of the basic meaning.

Etymology

The word centrality in networks comes from central and centre, which mean 'middle'. Think of a person standing in the middle of a crowd. They can reach many people, so a place with high centrality has many connections and is more important in the network.