Homophily of Network Ties and Bonding and Bridging Social Capital in Computer-Mediated Distributed Teams

This research studied homophily of network ties in distributed teams in both task-related instrumental networks and non-task related expressive networks. Homophily of network ties was examined in terms of demographic and social characteristics, including gender, race, geographic location, and group assignment. Social network data were collected from 32 students enrolled in a distance learning class from two universities. MQAP regression analysis showed that homophily in gender and in race had no significant impact on the development of either instrumental or expressive ties. In instrumental networks, both homophily in group assignment and in location had significant impact on the development of network ties. In expressive networks, homophily in location had significant impact on the development of network ties, but the impact of homophily in group membership was only marginally significant. Further analysis of bonding ties with people of the same group and bridging ties with people from different groups showed that bonding social capital can exert significant influence on performance.