The Effects of Social Network Centrality on Group Satisfaction

The purpose of this research was to identify how various social network centralities affect a person's satisfaction level. Simple degree centrality has been utilized to specify an individual's location in a network by measuring the number of direct links with other members in the organization (Brass and Burkhardt, 1992, 1993). This study examines how location in friendship, task, and avoidance networks affect an individual's satisfaction with the group. To determine the relationship between social network centrality and work group satisfaction, a longitudinal field study was conducted on 440 active duty enlisted military members in a leadership development training course. While most research has indicated a positive relationship between task or friendship network centrality and satisfaction (Kilduff, Krachardt, 1993), other research suggests otherwise (Brass, 1981). The results of this study are similarly inconclusive.