Networks in New Communities: Addition, Subtraction or Division?

Rosenblatt TH¹*, Cheshire L¹ and Lawrence G¹

1. University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Residents moving to new communities continue to rely upon their existing networks while having additional opportunities to develop networks in their new community. Previous research has suggested that retaining and servicing previous networks may hinder the development of new networks. In an era which is being described as being one of ‘hyper-connectivity’ the capacity to maintain prior networks appears to have increased. This paper presents findings from initial research in a new master planned community that investigates whether new networks become additions to existing networks, subtract from existing networks, or cause a further division of available time in the servicing of competing networks. The implications of this for the formation of social capital in new communities are discussed.