Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Mathematics/2009 June 26

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June 26[edit]

Small World Experiment[edit]

Many people have heard something along the lines that, "You are 6 handshakes away from the president." See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_world_phenomenon

However, I have found nothing relating specifically to wikipedia. With all its internal links, my question is if there is any research or answer on the statistical "closeness" between any two pages on Wikipedia. For example, the number for the "closeness" between small world experiment and Deborah Sampson is 2 as one can navigate to Deborah Sampson by clicking on the link "Sharon, Massachusetts" on the small world experiment page and then on "Deborah Sampson"

174.18.97.68 (talk) 20:46, 26 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Studies into this have certainly been done. I'll try and find one for you. --Tango (talk) 21:23, 26 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Wikipedia:Six degrees of Wikipedia (WP:WHAAOE!). See also, [1]. --Tango (talk) 21:28, 26 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]