Date of Award

Spring 2026

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Department

Sociology

First Advisor

Matthew E. Brashears

Abstract

Research in the field of social cognition found that humans use schema for the storage and processing of network information. Schema use differs by gender and power, in theory because individuals differ in the schemas that apply to the network structures they are involved with. I analyzed a survey dataset collected during the COVID-19 pandemic that asked respondents about how often they interacted with people, and organizations, as well as what forms of communication they used. In addition, a network recall survey experiment was conducted to measure their network recall accuracy. If schema are learned cognitive rules the brain uses to process information, then how an individual recalls a network will be shaped by ongoing opportunities to practice schemata. This effect should be moderated by the respondent’s level of social poverty with higher levels of social poverty (i.e., inadequate social integration) being associated with poorer recall accuracy. Results uncovered more about the role that practice plays in the formation of social schemata and will shape future understanding of the differences in individual network recall ability across categories. Furthermore, it will contribute to efforts to design more efficient, and effective, organizations.

Rights

© 2026, Gage Austin Pierce

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