Week-long workshop in SNA

Post date: Mar 15, 2016 7:55:36 PM

The LINKS Center at the University of Kentucky is offering its annual 1-week summer workshop on social network analysis June 6-10, 2016 on the University of Kentucky campus. Registration opens March 30th and closes May 15th. To sign up, visit www.linksworkshop.org. Students pay half-price.

The workshop features LINKS Center faculty Steve Borgatti, Dan Brass, Eric Gladstone, Dan Halgin, Joe Labianca, Ajay Mehra, and Scott Soltis, as well as guest instructors Filip Agneessens, Kristin Cullen-Lester, Alan Daly, Rich DeJordy, Joe Ferrare, Jeff Johnson, David Krackhardt, Tom Valente and Phil Willburn. In addition, all of the sessions are assisted by a cadre of students and recent graduates in order to ensure that participants are able to obtain personalized attention. We encourage participants to bring their own data and work with our 27 instructors and TAs to analyze the data.

The workshop features four major, concurrent tracks for the first four days, followed by three choices of area-specific sessions on the final day, as well as one methodological option. At the end of each day, we also offer multiple 1.5 hour short modules on specialized topics, as well as a data lab for analyzing your own data. Finally, we offer a number of 45-minute consultations with LINKS Center faculty to discuss your research.

MAJOR TRACKS (4 days each; Monday-Thursday)

Introduction to Social Network Analysis. Led by Dan Halgin and Dan Brass (U. of Kentucky). Includes a theoretical and empirical overview of the field, followed by a comprehensive survey of the concepts and methods of social network analysis, including data collection, data management, centrality, social capital, cohesion, and hypothesis testing. In addition, participants participate in lab sessions to learn how to use network analysis software, including UCINET and NetDraw.

Introduction to Analyzing Social Network Data. Led by Rich DeJordy (Northeastern). A more software- and data-oriented version of Introduction to SNA that covers most of the same concepts as Intro but focuses more on using the software and devotes a bit more time to interpreting the equations & formulas that define many network concepts. Includes lab sessions in which participants work through analysis exercises using the UCINET and NetDraw software.

Intermediate Network Analysis. Led by Steve Borgatti (U. of Kentucky). For people interested in both a deeper and broader look at network concepts and methods. Topics include advanced centrality methods, measuring network change, advanced approaches to 2-mode data, analyzing negative ties, working with multiple relations, and integrating node attributes with network measures. This module also introduces participants to UCINET's command-line and batch processing capabilities.

Stochastic Network Models. Led by Filip Agneessens (U. of Surrey). This course provides an introduction to exponential random graph models (ERGMs) and stochastic actor-based models for network dynamics (as implemented in SIENA). The course will focus on hands-on use of MPNet and RSiena and on the interpretation of output. An introduction to the R analysis language (needed for RSiena) will also be provided during the workshop.

AREA-SPECIFIC TRACKS (1 day each; Friday)

Networks and Education. Led by Alan Daly (UC San Diego) and Joe Ferrare (U. of Kentucky). Applying the social network perspective to education research and policy.

Networks and Health. Led by Tom Valente (USC). Social network theory and method in the context of understanding health-related behaviors, interventions and disease epidemiology.

Networks and Leadership. Led by Phil Willburn and Kristin Cullen-Lester, who spearhead the network initiative at the Center for Creative Leadership. The session covers the latest research and practice on networks and leadership.

UCINET in Depth. Led by Rich DeJordy and Steve Borgatti. In this module we work with real data from articles published in Administrative Science Quarterly, Management Science, among others, and show how to work the data from initial import to reproduction of published results. We also will work with any datasets the participants are willing to share.

MINI-MODULES (1.5 hours each, Monday-Thursday after 4pm)

The mini-modules are short sessions on specialized topics. Some focus on research design topics, others on using specialized software, and still others on handling particular kinds of data. Past offerings have included: managing your IRB, managing your research site, working with SNA packages in R, handling archival data, working with cognitive social structure data, working with 2-mode data, analyzing negative ties, collection and analysis of ego-network data, and more.

In addition, each day we offer a data lab where people can bring their data and have someone experienced with the software help them with the analysis.

1-ON-1 CONSULTATIONS (45-minute slots available Tuesday-Friday)

We provide opportunities for participants to discuss their research in depth with Joe Labianca, Jeff Johnson, Ajay Mehra, and Scott Soltis.

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Please note that the largest modules are capped at about 55 participants, so you might want to register soon after registration opens (March 30). Registration closes May 15.

For more information, please visit the workshop website: https://sites.google.com/site/linkscenterworkshopsna/ or use the shorter www.linksworkshop.org .