Open Network, Open Mind: an examination of the causal relationship between network heterogeneity and open-mindedness

Abstract

This study aims to assess the relationship between network heterogeneity and openmindedness, open-mindedness being the extent to which one tolerates diverging opinions or people with diverging opinions. Using data of the second and third wave of the Survey of the Social Networks of the Dutch (2007; 2011), this study will test the hypothesis that if the heterogeneity of some person’s network is higher, the more open-minded this person will be. To establish causality, a distinction between discussion and colleague networks is made. The results demonstrate that network heterogeneity indeed has a positive relationship with the respondent’s open-mindedness. Because of the distinction between discussion and colleague networks, we can establish that one’s open-mindedness is indeed influenced by one’s network, and not the other way around (e.g. open-minded people selecting a more varied and open network).