Sign-up for Mini-Modules

Post date: Jun 02, 2012 9:10:39 PM

From Monday through Thursday, we are offering a variety of mini-modules from 4:15 to 5:45 each day to supplement the major tracks. A description of the various mini-modules can be found below. Use the following link to sign up for one:

http://www.doodle.com/n62eacru3x284ux4

Because of possible space limitations we ask that you exercise judgment in the number of modules you sign up for. Please do not sign up for two modules being given at the same time!

Module Descriptions

EVERY DAY

Data Lab (Room 248; Mon-Thu: 4:15-5:45)

Various Instructors

We will be offering data labs each day at the conclusion of the main workshop. Data labs will provide a space for asking questions about your own data.

MONDAY

Research Design (Room 309; Mon: 4:15-5:45)

Instructor: Jeff Johnson

This module will cover the fundamentals of research design for social network projects. Various questions will be addressed including: How do I bound my network? What types of relationships should I investigate? Would a whole network or ego network approach be better suited for my research? Should I collect binary or valued tie data?

Computer Issues (Room 305; Mon: 4:15-5:45)

Instructor: Rich DeJordy & Lukas Zenk

Having trouble getting UCINET installed or running on your computer? Installed the latest version of UCINET, but somehow the old one keeps running? This mini-module is designed to help trouble-shoot problems with the installation and/or running of UCINET on your computer. In general, the mini-module will be driven by whatever issues participants are experiencing with the software, but if time permits (i.e., we run out of issues/problems), we will also cover some tricks for making using UCINET in a windows environment more friendly and some commonly encountered problems and their solutions.

CSS Data (Room 315; Mon: 4:15-5:45)

Instructor: Scott Soltis

Collecting individual perceptions of social networks is a rewarding, but challenging venture. In this mini-module we will discuss cognitive social structures, methods for collecting this data, and what to do once you have a dataset. Topics to be discussed include: Krackhardt-style CSS data, visual scales of network perceptions, CSS aggregation techniques, and measuring accuracy.

TUESDAY

E-Net (Room 315; Tue: 4:15-5:45)

Instructors: Theresa Floyd & Chris Sterling

This module covers ego network analysis, the collection of personal network data focusing on local structure. The first part of this module will present the basics of ego network research highlighting the differences from a whole network approach. This will be followed by a crash course in E-Net, a computer program designed by Dr. Borgatti specifically for ego network analysis. The E-Net application portion will cover everything from downloading the software, importing data, and data analysis.

IRB & Ethics (Room 309; Tue: 4:15-5:45)

Instructors: Travis Grosser & Ginny Kidwell

The unique nature of social network data demands that researchers take active steps to maintain the confidentiality of the human subjects taking part in our research. This module will cover practical tips on how to address issues that IRBs often raise when evaluating social network research designs. We’ll provide examples of successful IRB submissions and give you tips on how to make your IRB experience as painless as possible. We’ll also discuss the ethical implications of social network data collection.

Data Scraping (Room 305; Tue: 4:15-5:45)

Instructor: Scott Soltis

In this mini-module we will discuss some of the benefits of collecting data from archival sources (such as information accessible via web sites). After a brief discussion of data scraping, we will collect two datasets using publicly available data, which we will use to explore some basic features of UCINET such as data entry, visualization, and measuring centrality.

WEDNESDAY

Online Surveys (Room 309; Wed: 4:15-5:45)

Instructors: Travis Grosser & Ginny Kidwell

Want to know how to actually create an online survey and turn the resulting data into UCINET files? This module will cover the nuts and bolts of how to do that. We will discuss how to design whole network surveys using Survey Gizmo and Qualtrics survey software. We’ll also show you how to download the data & get it into UCINET. The examples covered will be specific to management research but the principles will apply to anybody who would like to collect data on a predetermined population of respondents.

KeyPlayer (Room 305; Wed: 4:15-5:45)

Instructors: Adam Jonas & Dan Halgin

This module is a hands-on introduction to the KeyPlayer software included in the UCINET package. KeyPlayer offers new, innovative solutions to network intervention problems such as “which sets of network members can reach the greatest percentage of the others in the network?”, “which sets of network members if removed, will cause the greatest fragmentation to the overall network?”, and “which sets of network members are in positions to harvest the most ‘flows’ from different regions of the network?”. The usefulness of KeyPlayer will be discussed across diverse fields focusing on public health, management, and law enforcement. By the end of the module, participants should possess the ability to use KeyPlayer software and apply basic metrics to network data.

Missing Data (Room 315; Wed: 4:15-5:45)

Instructor: Filip Agneessens

This module looks at missing data in networks. We start with considering different types and sources of missing data. We then discuss standard techniques for dealing with missing data, as well as more advanced procedures such as multiple imputation.

THURSDAY

Visualization (Room 305; Thu: 4:15-5:45)

Instructor: Lukas Zenk

Having network data over time without knowing what to do with them? Do you still aggregate your data and visualize just one big static network picture? Networks are typically not static as they are often based on interactions between actors. And due to an increasing amount of passive data (e.g. emails, phone logs, websites), we already have a huge amount of continous data, that we still don't analyze (Zenk & Stadtfeld, 2010). In this module, we will have a closer look, what "dynamic networks" really mean and how we can visualize them to better understand and interactively explore them (Windhager, Zenk & Federico, 2011). I will show you advanced techniques, e.g. how to visualize a 2.5 dimensional network in UCINet, and how we can use the open source software Gephi to generate networks like in Photoshop. At the end, I will give you an outlook on SNA of tomorrow ;) Real time network visualizations and social mirroring with RFID chips and geotagging during conferences.

Managing your Research Site (Room 315; Thu: 4:15-5:45)

Instructors: Chris Sterling & Travis Grosser

Struggling to gain access to an organization to collect data for your project? Having problems generating a high enough response rate? Collecting social network data presents some unique problems, organizational decision makers are often unfamiliar with the methods and aims of our research and the relational nature of social network data requires high response rates while making it impossible to guarantee anonymity to our respondents. These obstacles create a greater need to have organizational decision makers invested in your project, a greater need to build trust and rapport with your respondents, and a greater need to establish your identity within the organization. This module is aimed at maximizing response rate and building a long-term relationship with your organization by discussing several different techniques used throughout the project life cycle including: gaining access to research sites, building trust with participants, handling the logistical issues of data collection, and feeding back results to the organization. This module will particularly focus on conducting research inside companies and business organizations.

SNA Today (Room 309; Thu: 4:15-5:45)

Instructor: Steve Borgatti

This module will focus on prevalent current trends in social network analysis including: the latest research themes, contemporary problems and challenges facing social network research, and advances in social network methodology.

FRIDAY

1-on-1 Meeting with Dr. Labianca (Room 455T; Friday each hour from 9:00-4:00)

Freshly added to our menu of choices is a 1-on-1 consulting session with Dr. Joe Labianca. Joe will be available to meet with one individual each hour to discuss their own projects.