A prominent member’s impact shifts with group size even at constant ratios

Evidence

The structural differences among groups, that are produced by mere numerical differences, become even more evident in the roles played by certain prominent and effective members. It is obvious that a given number of such members has a different significance in a large group than in a small one. As the group changes quantitatively, the effectiveness of these members also changes. But it must be noted that this effectiveness is modified even if the number of outstanding members rises or falls in exact proportion to that of the whole group. — Georg Simmel, The Sociology of Georg Simmel, 3196

Categorization

• DEFINE: Establishes what ‘sociological significance of magnitude’ means — different from mere ratio.
• XREF: connects to: Cachet diffuses along association chains but evaporates under lower-class adoption — W. David Marx, Status and Culture: How Our Desire for…, 212