created by Elizabeth Luckey
4th year Biological Science & Animal Science, 4th year
In the latter half of the 20th century, psychologist Stanley Milgram conducted a series of small-world experiments to assess the degrees of separation between individuals in the United States. Milgram used tangible envelopes, sent these via the postal service, conducted several editions of the experiment, and recruited participants via an advertisement seeking individuals who regarded themselves as well-connected. His methods did not discount participants who knew the target personally; this occurrence was simply recorded as a one-step chain. Through many experimental repetitions, his team established an average path length of around six people.
