Final answer:
Degree centrality is the concept from social network analysis that indicates the number of connections an individual node has in a network, representing their level of direct interaction with others.
Step-by-step explanation:
A factor in centrality in social networks that refers to the number of connections to others in the network is degree centrality. Degree centrality is calculated based on the number of links an individual node has. If a person in a social network has many direct connections, they have a high degree centrality. This implies they are a highly interactive member of the network, potentially having significant influence or access to information flowing through the network.
Individuals with fewer connections might either occupy niche spaces or might be new to the network. Degree centrality is one of several measures used in network analysis, others include betweenness centrality, closeness centrality, and eigenvector centrality, each offering different perspectives on a node's position and influence within the network.