Introduction

Introduction to the course, the class participants, and the field of social network analysis. Social network analysis is the study of social relations. This course treats qualitative and quantitative methods for social network research, emphasizing a “how-to” approach to analyzing existing datasets or those collected by seminar participants in their own research.

[Revised 2013]

Topics

- Course logistics
- The discipline of social networks
- What makes the field distinct
- Underlying theoretical perspectives
- What is a network?
- Preview of key concepts

Readings

- Borgatti, S.P., Mehra, A., Brass, D. and Labianca, G. (2009). “Network Analysis in the Social Sciences.” Science. Vol. 323. no. 5916, Feb 13, pp. 892 - 895 [abs] [published version] [longer pre-pub version]

Borgatti, S.P. & Halgin, D.S. (2011). On Network Theory. Organization Science. September/October 2011 22(5):1168-1181 [pdf]
Wellman, B. 1988. "Structural Analysis: From Method and Metaphor to Theory and Substance". Pp. 19-61 in Social Structures a Network Approach, edited by Barry Wellman & S.D. Berkowitz. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. [pdf]

Slides

Introduction

Exercises

Getting acquainted with Ucinet and Netdraw

Miscellaneous

- Old slides
- The field
- slides/intro.pdf
- Old notes
- Outlines/Introduction
- Bibliographies
- Histories of the field
- Comments, Criticisms & Reviews
- Textbooks

Useful handout
- Brass, D. Antecedents & Consequences of Social Networks [doc]