Simon Langlois studied government employment in Quebec. He found that even though the government had made efforts to formalize recruitment, over 40 percent of those surveyed found their jobs through personal contacts. In the majority of those cases, the personal contacts were fairly casual, not close friends. What principle is demonstrated here?
A) the strength of weak ties
B) the power of strong triads
C) the way reference groups affect people's behavior
D) the role group cohesion plays in determining behavior
E) the power of groupthink

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The principle demonstrated here is the strength of weak ties, which suggests that individuals are more likely to find job opportunities and other resources through acquaintances and distant connections rather than their closest friends and family members. In this case, even though formal recruitment processes were in place, personal contacts were still a significant factor in obtaining government employment.

Simon Langlois Studied Government Employment in Quebec