The figure above shows this involvement by contrasting three ECER/ VETNET groups: the Board members (aggregated over the 6 year period), the frequent participants (2 to 6 times, also including the Board members) and the once-only participants. It is obvious that a large majority of Board members and also a majority of frequent participants are involved in several networks, while a small minority of the once-only participants share this characteristic. This comparison suggests that the frequency of ECER/ VETNET participation is underpinned by a high degree of parallel network contacts. 

However, the different size of these three groups should also be taken into account. If those ECER/ VETNET participants who have been involved in other networks are counted in each group, the absolute numbers are fairly close, in fact equal between the groups of frequent participants and once-only participants. On the other hand, the absolute numbers of ECER/ VETNET participants without other network affiliations vary considerably between the three groups, being five times as high among the once-only participants as against the frequent participants. 

This latter comparison of absolute numbers confirms the high correlation, already observed for group three, between once-only participation in ECER/ VETNET and lack of other network affiliations. The opposite case is less pronounced: ECER/ VETNET participants involved in other networks are represented in equal numbers among the once-only and the frequent visitors. However, even at once-only visits these participants are likely to reinforce relations with other participants of joint network contexts. Therefore the participants involved in other networks are all potentially related to the core group of frequent ECER/ VETNET participants.