Peer Selection Research Articles

Evaluating methods for estimating influence effects in social networks: a simulation study

The contagion effect, also known as the peer effect, plays a significant role in social networks. It refers to the phenomenon in which one person or group can influence the behavior of other individuals with whom they share social connections. However, accurately estimating the contagion effect is challenging due to the confounding impact of peer selection. Previous studies have shown that this can be viewed as a problem of omitted variable bias. In an attempt to address this issue, simulation studies were conducted to compare the effectiveness of various methodologies in estimating peer influence within social networks, including latent variable models and machine learning techniques. Our research demonstrates that the performance of various approaches vary depending on the social network scenario. Overall, the latent space approach exhibits the best performance. This analysis provides valuable insights for researchers studying estimation techniques and emphasizes the importance of understanding the strengths, limitations, and objectives of these methods before using them for inference-based estimation.

The Attention Game: How External Peers Shape Headquarters’ Attention to Subsidiaries

External peers influence a multinational’s (MNE) attention to its subsidiaries. When external peers pay attention to their foreign subsidiaries, this prompts MNEs to pay attention to their own subsidiaries in the same market. As MNEs operate in multiple contexts, the selection of relevant external peers is complicated. Using a cognitive perspective we address the following: Who are the external peers managers monitor? What subsidiaries benefit from external peer attention to their own subsidiaries? When are external peers relied upon? Applying the cognitive perspective, attention occurs independent of subsidiary actions, driven by managers’ cognitive frameworks and in response to external peers.

Friends Can Help to Aim High: Peer Influence and Selection Effects on Academic Ambitions and Achievement

Friends Can Help to Aim High: Peer Influence and Selection Effects on Academic Ambitions and Achievement

Planning improvements through data envelopment analysis (DEA) benchmarking based on a selection of peers

Incorporating preferences on suitable peers into benchmarking analyses may ensure the setting of appropriate targets, which enable designing plans for improving performance that are aligned with management. This paper deals with target setting in situations where decision makers (DMs) have previously made a selection of peer candidates for the benchmarking of a given organization. A first approach is developed within the framework of conventional Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), which is the technology mostly used in non-parametric frontier analysis. It provides targets from reference sets consisting of peer candidates that span a face of the strong efficient frontier of the production possibility set (PPS). These targets result from solving a DEA-like model, thus preventing from the need to identify all of the maximal efficient faces (MEFs) of the DEA frontier. We also propose a second approach where the convexity in DEA is somehow relaxed to allow additionally for reference sets consisting of candidates that are Pareto-efficient, provided that their convex hull is not dominated by other units. In that sense, the targets found can be seen as representing best practices. This approach broadens the range of alternatives when planning improvements, and may eventually provide closer targets.

The Social Processes of Excessive Online Gaming Homophily: Peer Selection or Influence?

Adolescents who befriend online game using peers may be at risk for initiated and continued excessive game use (online gaming use homophily). The present article examined how adolescents' severity of online gaming use related to their friends' online gaming behavior bi-directionally across a semester (peer selection or peer influence effect). Students from two universities completed three waves of online surveys within four and a half months (N = 3079; 33.6% female; Mage = 19.16; SD = 0.97). Random-intercepts, Cross-Lagged Panel Model (RI-CLPM) analyses revealed that peer selection and peer influence both promote online gaming use homophily in adolescents' friendship groups. Furthermore, participants were more likely to form new friendships with peers exhibiting similar online gaming behavior as their behavior, subsequently reinforcing their online gaming use behaviors within these relationships. These social processes may exhibit a time lag among girls, which needs to be confirmed through longer-term follow-up. In general, findings suggest that effective prevention programs targeting excessive online gaming should not only focus on promoting social influence skills but also consider the structure of peer environments.

Heterogeneous peer effects of college roommates on academic performance

Understanding how student peers influence learning outcomes is crucial for effective education management in complex social systems. The complexities of peer selection and evolving peer relationships, however, pose challenges for identifying peer effects using static observational data. Here we use both null-model and regression approaches to examine peer effects using longitudinal data from 5,272 undergraduates, where roommate assignments are plausibly random upon enrollment and roommate relationships persist until graduation. Specifically, we construct a roommate null model by randomly shuffling students among dorm rooms and introduce an assimilation metric to quantify similarities in roommate academic performance. We find significantly larger assimilation in actual data than in the roommate null model, suggesting roommate peer effects, whereby roommates have more similar performance than expected by chance alone. Moreover, assimilation exhibits an overall increasing trend over time, suggesting that peer effects become stronger the longer roommates live together. Our regression analysis further reveals the moderating role of peer heterogeneity. In particular, when roommates perform similarly, the positive relationship between a student’s future performance and their roommates’ average prior performance is more pronounced, and their ordinal rank in the dorm room has an independent effect. Our findings contribute to understanding the role of college roommates in influencing student academic performance.

Impartial Peer Selection: An Annotated Reading List

The study of peer selection mechanisms presents a unique opportunity to understand and improve the practice of a group selecting its best members, despite each member of that group wanting to be selected. A prime example of such a setting is academic peer review, for which peer selection offers a variety of improvement directions. We present an annotated reading list covering the foundations of peer selection as well as recent and emerging work within the field.

Private Firm Valuation Using Multiples: Can Artificial Intelligence Algorithms Learn Better Peer Groups?

Forming optimal peer groups is a crucial step in multiplier valuation. Among others, the traditional regression methodology requires the definition of the optimal set of peer selection criteria and the optimal size of the peer group a priori. Since there exists no universally applicable set of closed and complementary rules on selection criteria due to the complexity and the diverse nature of firms, this research exclusively examines unlisted companies, rendering direct comparisons with existing studies impractical. To address this, we developed a bespoke benchmark model through rigorous regression analysis. Our aim was to juxtapose its outcomes with our unique approach, enriching the understanding of unlisted company transaction dynamics. To stretch the performance of the linear regression method to the maximum, various datasets on selection criteria (full as well as F- and NCA-optimized) were employed. Using a sample of over 20,000 private firm transactions, model performance was evaluated employing multiplier prediction error measures (emphasizing bias and accuracy) as well as prediction superiority directly. Emphasizing five enterprise and equity value multiples, the results allow for the overall conclusion that the self-organizing map algorithm outperforms the traditional linear regression model in both minimizing the valuation error as measured by the multiplier prediction error measures as well as in direct prediction superiority. Consequently, the machine learning methodology offers a promising way to improve peer selection in private firm multiplier valuation.

Social-Aware Peer Selection for Energy Efficient D2D Communications in UAV-Assisted Networks: A Q-Learning Approach

Social-Aware Peer Selection for Energy Efficient D2D Communications in UAV-Assisted Networks: A Q-Learning Approach

Director self-dealing: Evidence from compensation peer groups

We find that director pay, especially the equity-based portion, is positively related to peer firms' director pay, suggesting boards benchmark when establishing their own compensation. Such benchmarking is distinct from peer benchmarking in CEO pay. We also find a significant bias in peer selection towards peers with relatively high director pay, which helps increase board pay. Peer benchmarking of director compensation is more (less) pronounced in firms with low (high) involvement by institutional investors and firms with declining (increasing) profitability. Overall, our results are consistent with directors engaging in self-dealing when selecting compensation peers, without clear benefits to the firm.

Effects of informational nudges on preordered food choices of middle school National School Lunch Program participants

AbstractWe examine the effects of own order history, peer order history, and MyPlate nudges received by middle‐school National School Lunch Program (NSLP) participants while preordering on the selection of fruits and vegetables. Students receiving own order history nudges were significantly less likely to select a vegetable during the postintervention phase. Students who received peer order history nudges were significantly less likely to select a vegetable during the nudging and postintervention phases, suggesting that receiving information on peer selection negatively impacted the selection of vegetables. The MyPlate recommendations nudge may mitigate the negative effects of receiving peer selection information.

Identifying gaps between research results and education

Although research results can enhance the content of education programs at various university levels, many important research results are only partly covered in major university-level textbooks. It is more difficult to transfer contributions from research results to practitioners if the former is not part of regular education programs. Here, we identify areas where researchers and educators can bridge the gap between theory and research results based on empirical studies, allowing findings to be more easily implemented by practitioners in situations that can improve their output. We take the use and accuracy of security and financial statement analysis as our prime target to examine empirical research results. Financial statement analysis and security valuation are two important applications in accounting and finance, and it is possible to measure changes in the models’ parameters and the effect these have on the outcome. We focus on five aspects of security and financial statement analysis: analysts’ use of valuation models, their estimates and accuracy, peer selection using multiples, valuation models target price accuracy, and differences in industry-specific valuation models and valuation factors. We find that most of the important research results are not referenced in major financial accounting textbooks.

The influence of peer's social networks on adolescent's cannabis use: a systematic review of longitudinal studies.

A systematic review was performed to summarize the key findings of the peer influence on cannabis use through Social Network Analysis (SNA) studies and identify limitations and gaps with the purpose of informing future research and practice. Longitudinal studies were included since they provide robust information about social relationships change over time. Adolescents' cannabis use is a global problem, which has awakened an interest in its determinants such as social influences. Research has shown the importance of these influences on cannabis uptake and use. SNA is an useful relational approach to examine socialization mechanisms related to the onset of cannabis use in adolescents. A search was conducted in PyscINFO, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science for longitudinal articles published until February 2023, to examine cannabis use and peer's social networks. We focus on peers' influence of peers on cannabis use. Additionally, information about effect of cannabis use for peer selection was collected. The results of the included studies (n = 8) showed that friends' cannabis use was most often/strongly associated with cannabis use. There was also an increase of cannabis use when the adolescent did not feel close to the school's peers, had a higher proportion of friendships relative to the total number of ties in the neighborhood, had a central position, did not belong to any group but had ties to members of two or more groups, had cannabis user friends (especially in early ages), and lived in a neighborhood where cannabis was used. Cannabis use is mainly related to friends' use. Yet, future studies are warranted to control for relevant selection effects to further knowledge on network effects on cannabis use, improving the design, and improving the modeling of the network. This systematic review may inform about the critical aspects of preventing cannabis use among adolescents, taking into consideration their complex social environment.

Peer Relationships and Chinese Adolescents’ Academic Achievement: Selection and Influence

This study applied Simulation Investigation for Empirical Network Analysis to disentangle friendship selection and influence regarding the academic achievement of Chinese adolescents in a 3-year longitudinal study of 880 middle school students (400 girls, Year 1 mean age = 13.33) and 525 high school students (284 girls, mean age = 16.45). Both peer selection and influence effects were obtained. Chinese adolescents preferred friendships with similarly achieving or higher achieving peers but avoided friendships with lower achieving peers. They increased achievement when they befriended high-achieving peers but decreased achievement when they befriended low-achieving peers. Influence but not selection was stronger for middle school students than for high school students. The results may be a function of the importance of academic success for Chinese students.

Pengembangan Model Edukasi Telehealth terhadap Pencegahan Perilaku Seksual Pranikah pada Remaja: Literatur Review

Pre-marital sexual behavior in adolescents can influence developmental tasks and increase risky behaviors such as unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Social media, gadget influence, and inappropriate peer selection play a role in these occurrences. Peer education models through counselling centers in schools are crucial in providing insights and experiences for better and healthier behavior. Telehealth models serve as an educational method that can reduce pre-marital sexual behavior by providing information on reproductive health and preventing pre-marital sexual behavior. The research method used was a comprehensive literature review. A total of 11 articles meeting inclusion criteria were found, utilizing educational media through m-health, WhatsApp groups, videos, and leaflets. Data gathered included insights into sexual diseases, positive attitudes towards change, adolescent knowledge and interests, education level, gender, self-efficacy, general health status, socioeconomic status, living conditions, healthcare facilities, and marital status. Clinical practice implications through peer education can enhance adolescent knowledge, thus potentially reducing premarital sexual relationships and unwanted pregnancies among adolescents. Based on the literature study, the telehealth education model can be further developed using other theoretical models to make its implementation more comprehensive.

A Measure of Financial Statement Benchmarking

ABSTRACT We propose a pairwise measure of financial statement benchmarking (FSB) that captures the degree of overlap in the financial statement line items reported by two firms. We validate FSB by showing its association with actual peer choices of analysts and corporate boards. We then test the practical implications of FSB in the context of strategic peer selection by these parties. We find that analyst (board) chosen peers with low pairwise FSB are more likely to be strategic selections and that the set of peers assembled by an analyst (board) collectively having low FSB is associated with more optimistic earnings forecasts (higher CEO overpay). We also demonstrate alternative applications of FSB by aggregating the pairwise measure at the firm level and decomposing it into finer financial statement-specific components. Our evidence suggests that FSB can be a relevant tool for those using benchmarking applications, including practitioners and academics. Data Availability: Data are available from sources identified in the paper. JEL Classifications: M41.

Mutual pathways between peer and own e-cigarette use among youth in the United States: a cross-lagged model

BackgroundElectronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have become the most common tobacco product used among adolescents in the United States (US). Prior research has shown that peer e-cigarette use was associated with increased risk of own e-cigarette use. Nonetheless, there is little empirical evidence on the directionality of these associations—if peer use predicts own use (peer influence) or if own use predicts peer use (peer selection).MethodsWe estimated the association between peer and own e-cigarette use among US adolescents 12–17 years of age. We used the cross-lagged model to investigate the mutual relationship between peer and own e-cigarette use over time using data from a population-based longitudinal study, Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health. Stratified analyses were conducted by sex and age subgroups.ResultsResults from a cross-lagged model showed a statistically significant predicting path leading from peer use at the prior time point to own use at the following time point, but not vice versa.ConclusionsWe found strong relationships between peer e-cigarette use and own e-cigarette use at within-individual levels. Peer influence paths were more robust than peer selection paths for e-cigarette use. Incorporating peers into prevention and intervention programs may help enhance these strategies.

Detecting and Understanding Social Influence During Drinking Situations: Protocol for a Bluetooth-Based Sensor Feasibility and Acceptability Study.

High-risk alcohol consumption among young adults frequently occurs in the presence of peers who are also drinking. A high-risk drinking situation may consist of particular social network members who have a primary association with drinking. Fine-grained approaches such as ecological momentary assessment (EMA) are growing in popularity for studying real-time social influence, but studies using these approaches exclusively rely on participant self-report. Passive indicators of peer presence using Bluetooth-based technology to detect real-time interactions have the potential to assist in the development of just-in-time interventions. This study seeks to examine the feasibility and acceptability of using a Bluetooth-based sensor and smartphone app to measure social contact in real-world drinking situations. Young adults (N=20) who drink heavily and report social drinking will be recruited from the community to participate in a 3-week EMA study. Using a social network interview, index participants will identify and recruit 3 of their friends to carry a Bluetooth beacon. Participants will complete a series of EMA reports on their own personal Android devices including random reports; morning reports; first-drink reports; and signal-contingent reports, which are triggered following the detection of a beacon carried by a peer participant. EMA will assess alcohol use and characteristics of the social environment, including who is nearby and who is drinking. For items about peer proximity and peer drinking, a customized peer list will be presented to participants. Feedback about the study protocol will be ascertained through weekly contact with both index and peer participants, followed by a qualitative interview at the end of the study. We will examine the feasibility and acceptability of recruitment, enrollment of participants and peers, and retention. Feasibility will be determined using indexes of eligibility, enrollment, and recruitment. Acceptability will be determined through participant enrollment and retention, protocol compliance, and participant-reported measures of acceptability. Feasibility and acceptability for peer participants will be informed by enrollment rates, latency to enrollment, compliance with carrying the beacon, and self-reported reasons for compliance or noncompliance with beacon procedures. Finally, EMA data about peer proximity and peer drinking will support the validity of the peer selection process. Participant recruitment began in February 2023, and enrollment was completed in December 2023. Results will be reported in 2025. The protocol allows us to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a Bluetooth-based sensor for the detection of social contact between index participants and their friends, including social interactions during real-world drinking situations. Data from this study will inform just-in-time adaptive interventions seeking to address drinking in the natural environment by providing personalized feedback about a high-risk social context and alerting an individual that they are in a potentially unsafe situation. DERR1-10.2196/50650.

An efficient graph‐based peer selection method for financial statements

SummaryComparing companies can be useful for various purposes. Despite the widespread use of industry classification systems as a peer selection standard, these have been criticized for various reasons. Financial statements, however, offer a promising alternative to such classification systems. They are standardized, widely available, and offer deep insights into the nature of the company. In this paper, we present a graph distance metric for financial statements using the earth mover's distance. When using the distance metric on real‐world tasks such as peer identification and industry classification, it shows promising results in terms of accuracy and computational efficiency.

Who chooses whom for professional interaction? A sociometric inquiry into teacher leadership

ABSTRACTGiven the dyadic and multi-layered nature of professional relations, informal teacher learning mostly goes through complex, non-linear, and context-dependent professional interactions. Advice-seeking relationships (ASRs) are the most common form of informal interactions between teachers. However, due mostly to analytical constraints, little is known about the factors influencing ASRs in school settings. The paper aims to provide an empirical base for understanding the informal leadership exercised through between-teacher ASRs around technological and pedagogical expertise. To that end, inferential social network analysis (SNA) techniques are employed. Results showed teacher perception of positive school culture promotes pedagogical ASRs. Administrative leadership is significant in one-way advice flows from administrators to subordinates. Interpersonal similarities by gender and teaching experience are influential in peer selection for ASRs. Hybrid-expertise teachers, being equally headed for technological and pedagogical advice, occupy more central position in advice-networks. Regardless of school culture, technology-savvy teachers are more preferred for ASRs. The more teachers provide colleagues with technological advice, the more they assume a leading position for pedagogical advice, but not vice versa. Overall, the present SNA study sheds light on relational complexities of teacher leadership for professional learning that otherwise might not be salient when investigated using linear models on individual metrics.