Mario Small

Mario Small is the Quetelet Professor of Social Science at Columbia University and a member of the National Academy of Sciences. His research spans social networks, urban inequality, and research methods, with a particular focus on how personal networks are shaped by decisions and contexts across multiple settings.

His research interests include:

• Social Network Analysis, particularly egocentric network analysis
• Urban Inequality and its manifestations in neighborhoods and spatial mobility
• Alternative Financial Institutions and their role in low-income communities
• Discrimination and its impact on social and economic opportunities
• Qualitative research methods and improving 'qualitative literacy'

Small's recent work utilizes large-scale administrative data from Google Maps, SafeGraph, and other sources to examine racial segregation based on everyday mobility patterns and access to financial institutions. He has developed a decision-process theory of network mobilization and edited a comprehensive handbook on egocentric network analysis that brings together classic works with new perspectives.

Among his scientific achievements, Small is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, recognizing his significant contributions to social science research methodology and understanding of social networks.

As a methodologist, Small has worked to raise standards for qualitative research and improve the public's ability to interpret qualitative evidence. His work bridges traditional sociological inquiry with innovative data sources and analytical approaches, contributing to both theoretical advances and practical applications in understanding urban inequality and social networks.