Annals of Business Administrative Science (Apr 2014)

Logical Weakness of “The Strength of Weak Ties”

  • Nobuo TAKAHASHI,
  • Nobuyuki INAMIZU

DOI
https://doi.org/10.7880/abas.13.67
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 2
pp. 67 – 76

Abstract

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The present paper identifies leaps in the logic of Granovetter’s (1973) “The Strength of Weak Ties.” Granovetter states that “bridges” are “weak ties” due to the existence of a “forbidden triad.” However, the latter portion of his work, which cites empirical evidence, indicates a reversal in the logical relationship, stating that “weak ties” are “bridges.” Granovetter also provides very little evidence to state definitively that “forbidden triads never happen.”

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