Society and relationships · 1 min read
Sharing a desk for one semester made friendship more likely
With randomly assigned seats in rural Hungarian schools, mutual friendship rose from just over 15% to just over 22%.
The study, in plain language
Researchers randomized seating in 182 classrooms and analyzed 2,996 students. At the end of the semester, each could name up to five best friends. A friendship was mutual when both members of a pair named each other.
When two students had shared a desk, the estimated probability that they chose each other rose from just over 15% to just over 22%. The increase also appeared between boys and girls. For Roma and non-Roma students, the result changed depending on how missing data were handled, so it remained uncertain. It is also unclear whether sharing a desk created new friendships or helped preserve existing ones, or how long they lasted afterward.
The key idea
Being near someone every day creates more opportunities for friendship, even when a lottery determines the seat.
Something to think about
Think of a friendship of yours that began because someone happened to be nearby. This is a way to reflect on your own history, not a formula for making friends.
The original study
Proximity can induce diverse friendships: A large randomized classroom experiment
Source under CC BY 4.0. English adaptation and explanation by PaperFlow, with AI assistance. The text has been reorganized for a general audience; it is not the complete paper and does not imply endorsement by its authors.
One study alone does not represent a field's consensus. Educational content does not replace professional advice. Report a possible error.