Social Network Theory and Analysis
Social Network Theory and Analysis
"By my existence, I am nothing more than an empty place, an outline, that is reserved within being in general. Given with it, though, is the duty to fill in this empty place. That is my life."
― Georg Simmel, The View of Life: Four Metaphysical Essays with Journal Aphorisms (1918)
"The difficulty of adjudicating between typecasting and processes based on underlying skill differences represents in microcosm the larger challenge faced by structural sociology: to demonstrate that structural position can have causal force although occupancy of a particular position is, at least in part, endogenously determined by endowments and preferences."
― Zuckerman et al. (2003)
TBD
[1] Network Approach, Model, and Social Network Theory
- Approach != Model != Theory
The social network approach, model, and theory are different.
-- Approach: A perspective that treats the focal empirical domain as a network phenomenon: where a set of components and their relationships provide emergent properties for the investigation ('Lens'). You can easily apply the lens to either macro inter-firm relations, micro interpersonal relationships, and even connections between metaphysical constructs. [See]
-- Model: A statistical structure that characterizes the statistical relations (edges) between entities (nodes). Models represent the data-generating process and observations are used to estimate the associations ('Tools'). Explorations with network models may imply potential future hypotheses by showing covariances but this is not a theorization of "why" they covary. [Identify]
-- Theory: A set of statements that specify components and their interactions. Theory generates predictions that make the statements falsifiable. It also includes assumptions, definitions, and conditions that specify its boundary ('Guides'). Causal inference and prediction drive theory [Understand].
Barabási, A. L. (2012). The network takeover. Nature Physics, 8(1), 14-16.
Borgatti, S. P., Mehra, A., Brass, D. J., & Labianca, G. (2009). Network analysis in the social sciences. science, 323(5916), 892-895.
Joas, H., & Knöbl, W. (2009). Social theory: Twenty introductory lectures. Cambridge University Press.
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[2] Simmel, Granovetter, Burt
- Simmel
- Granovetter
- Burt
[3] Heider, De Soto, and Bevelas
- Heider
- De Soto
- Bevelas
[4] Graph Theory and Network Features
- Graph Theory
- Network Features
[5] Nodes and Edges
- Personal Attributes and Preferences
- Interactions and Relationships
- Network Perception and Schema
[6] Application (OB)
- So many great studies
[7] Application (HR)
- So many great studies
[8] Code (R & Python) + Proposal presentation
- Learn how to code
- Propose your idea, if you like it, you can continue to develop the idea further. You can work with me if you want to but it is your baby!
References
TBD