"...a major contribution to the empirical and theoretical work on social networks. Any researcher interested in the intersection of families, children, and social networks should read it." Contemporary Sociology

• Foreword U. Bronfenbrenner; Preface; Part I. Ideas and Themes: 1. Personal networks in the ecology of human development M. Cochran; Part II. Settings, Methods and Illustrations: 2. Settings and methods D. Riley et al; 3. The social networks interview L. Gunnarsson; 4. Descriptive illustrations M. Cochran and C. R. Henderson, Jr; Part III. The Influences of Race, Class and Culture: 5. Social networks, race and ethnicity W. E. Cross, Jr; 6. The social networks of married mothers in four cultures M. Cochran et al; 7. The social support networks of single parents: Sweden and the United States M. Cochran and L. Gunnarsson; Part IV. Impacts on Perceptions and Performance: 8. Network influences upon perception of the child: solo parenting and social support M. Cochran and C. R. Henderson, Jr; 9. Network influences on father involvement in childrearing D. Riley; 10. The social networks of six-year-olds: context, content and consequence M. Cochran and D. Riley; Part V. Changes in Networks Over Time: 11. Changes in network resources and relationships over time M. Larner; 12. Local residential mobility and its effects on social networks: a cross-cultural comparison M. Larner; 13. Formal supports and informal social ties: a case study M. Cochran and C. R. Henderson, Jr; Part VI. Social Networks and Human Development: 14. The network as an environment for human development M. Cochran; 15. Environmental factors constraining network development M. Cochran; 16. Factors influencing personal social initiative M. Cochran; 17. Personal networks and public policy M. Cochran; Appendix 1. The social network interviews; Endnotes; References.

"...a major contribution to the empirical and theoretical work on social networks. Any researcher interested in the intersection of families, children, and social networks should read it." Contemporary Sociology

• Foreword U. Bronfenbrenner; Preface; Part I. Ideas and Themes: 1. Personal networks in the ecology of human development M. Cochran; Part II. Settings, Methods and Illustrations: 2. Settings and methods D. Riley et al; 3. The social networks interview L. Gunnarsson; 4. Descriptive illustrations M. Cochran and C. R. Henderson, Jr; Part III. The Influences of Race, Class and Culture: 5. Social networks, race and ethnicity W. E. Cross, Jr; 6. The social networks of married mothers in four cultures M. Cochran et al; 7. The social support networks of single parents: Sweden and the United States M. Cochran and L. Gunnarsson; Part IV. Impacts on Perceptions and Performance: 8. Network influences upon perception of the child: solo parenting and social support M. Cochran and C. R. Henderson, Jr; 9. Network influences on father involvement in childrearing D. Riley; 10. The social networks of six-year-olds: context, content and consequence M. Cochran and D. Riley; Part V. Changes in Networks Over Time: 11. Changes in network resources and relationships over time M. Larner; 12. Local residential mobility and its effects on social networks: a cross-cultural comparison M. Larner; 13. Formal supports and informal social ties: a case study M. Cochran and C. R. Henderson, Jr; Part VI. Social Networks and Human Development: 14. The network as an environment for human development M. Cochran; 15. Environmental factors constraining network development M. Cochran; 16. Factors influencing personal social initiative M. Cochran; 17. Personal networks and public policy M. Cochran; Appendix 1. The social network interviews; Endnotes; References.

"...a major contribution to the empirical and theoretical work on social networks. Any researcher interested in the intersection of families, children, and social networks should read it." Contemporary Sociology

• Foreword U. Bronfenbrenner; Preface; Part I. Ideas and Themes: 1. Personal networks in the ecology of human development M. Cochran; Part II. Settings, Methods and Illustrations: 2. Settings and methods D. Riley et al; 3. The social networks interview L. Gunnarsson; 4. Descriptive illustrations M. Cochran and C. R. Henderson, Jr; Part III. The Influences of Race, Class and Culture: 5. Social networks, race and ethnicity W. E. Cross, Jr; 6. The social networks of married mothers in four cultures M. Cochran et al; 7. The social support networks of single parents: Sweden and the United States M. Cochran and L. Gunnarsson; Part IV. Impacts on Perceptions and Performance: 8. Network influences upon perception of the child: solo parenting and social support M. Cochran and C. R. Henderson, Jr; 9. Network influences on father involvement in childrearing D. Riley; 10. The social networks of six-year-olds: context, content and consequence M. Cochran and D. Riley; Part V. Changes in Networks Over Time: 11. Changes in network resources and relationships over time M. Larner; 12. Local residential mobility and its effects on social networks: a cross-cultural comparison M. Larner; 13. Formal supports and informal social ties: a case study M. Cochran and C. R. Henderson, Jr; Part VI. Social Networks and Human Development: 14. The network as an environment for human development M. Cochran; 15. Environmental factors constraining network development M. Cochran; 16. Factors influencing personal social initiative M. Cochran; 17. Personal networks and public policy M. Cochran; Appendix 1. The social network interviews; Endnotes; References.