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Cited by 395

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 9 of the 9 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

The Mediating Path to a Stronger Citizenship: Online and Offline Networks, Weak Ties, and Civic Engagement

Gil de Zúñiga, Homero, Valenzuela, Sebastián·2011·Communication Research
DOI 10.1177/0093650210384984
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Abstract

Empirical studies of citizen communication networks and participation go as far back as the 1940s, with a bolder focus in political—not civic—activities. A consistent finding reveals that individuals with larger networks are more engaged than those with smaller networks. This article expands this line of work with a number of novel tests. First, it compares the predictive power of online versus offline network size on civic engagement. It then explores the role of strong-tie versus weak-tie discussion frequency and participatory behaviors. Finally, it examines the extent to which the contribution of network size, both online and offline, on civic engagement is mediated by discussion with weak ties. Using original survey data from a large national sample of U.S. adults, results indicate that (1) the relationships between online and offline network size and civic engagement are positive and fairly similar in strength, (2) weak-tie discussion is the strongest predictor of civic behaviors, (3) weak-tie discussion largely mediates the association between participation and network size online and offline, and (4) online networks entail greater exposure to weak ties than offline networks.

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Metadata

Authors
Gil de Zúñiga, H., & Valenzuela, S.
Venue
Communication Research
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2010-12-08
Volume
38
Issue
3
Pages
397-421
ISSN
  • 0093-6502 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-3810
DOI
10.1177/0093650210384984
OpenAlex
W2129285862
Cited by
395
References
9
FWCI
49.99
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)

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Gil de Zúñiga, H., & Valenzuela, S. (2011). The Mediating Path to a Stronger Citizenship: Online and Offline Networks, Weak Ties, and Civic Engagement. Communication Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093650210384984

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