Introduction to SNA
Overview
A non-technical 3-day course led by Dan Brass, Rich DeJordy and Dan Halgin
Starting June 6, it meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 9:30am - 11:30am EDT and 12:30pm - 2:30pm EDT (12 contact hours).
This workshop provides a balanced introduction to social network analysis, including theoretical concepts and network measures, using software and interpreting results. The morning modules on Monday and Tuesday provide a theoretical, historical and empirical overview of the field led by Dan Brass, a pioneer of social network research in organizations. Other modules, led by Rich DeJordy and Dan Halgin, introduce the main concepts of SNA, including centrality, cohesion, and social capital, and demonstrate routines using UCINET and Netdraw software (both Windows programs). Participants are encouraged to follow along on their own machines. Please read the software information below about the Windows-based programs that we will use. Although our expertise is primarily in social networks and management research, we do our best to incorporate examples relevant to participants with backgrounds in education, health, history, and other disciplines. Xiwen Zhao and Chenduo Du will serve as teaching assistants for this workshop.
Monday, June 6
9:30am - 11:30am EDT: A theoretical, historical, and empirical overview of the field: Part 1 (led by Dan Brass)
12:30pm - 2:30pm EDT: An introduction to UCINET and Netdraw (led by Rich DeJordy)
3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT: TA office hours
Tuesday, June 7
9:30am - 11:30am EDT: A theoretical, historical, and empirical overview of the field: Part 2 (led by Dan Brass)
12:30pm - 2:30pm EDT: Whole network measures (led by Rich DeJordy)
3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT: TA office hours
Wednesday, June 8
9:30am - 11:30am EDT: Centrality (led by Dan Halgin)
12:30pm - 2:30pm EDT: Ego networks: Brokerage & social capital (led by Dan Halgin)
3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT: TA office hours
Thursday, June 9
9:30am - 11:30am EDT: TA office hours by appointment
Friday, June 10
9:30am - 11:30am EDT: TA office hours by appointment
Software
We introduce participants to the use of UCINET and Netdraw. Both are Windows programs. If you are a Mac or Linux user, we recommend installing Windows via an emulator to seamlessly run UCINET and Netdraw. We recommend Windows Emulators that provide a native Windows context as that will be used in the examples, exercises, and demonstrations during the workshop. Examples include Parallels and VMware Fusion for MacOS or VMware Workstation and QEMU for Linux. We will not be able to provide technical support related to problems arising from different operating platforms during the workshop. Visit our software page for more information.
UCINET (includes NetDraw)
Make sure you have version 6.746 or later. If not, download and install the current version
The installation program installs both the 32-bit version and the 64-bit version. In class we will use the 32-bit version only
Please look at this document 'setting up ucinet' to ensure that the program properly installed on your computer
Not free, but runs for 90 days without a registration code. If someone has previously downloaded the program and the trial period has expired, we can refresh it for the workshop
Installing UCINET also installs helper program Netdraw.exe
The installation procedure creates a folder called UCINET DATA in the user’s Documents folder. This is the folder the user should use for workshop data
Note: Those already familiar with UCINET may want to consider taking the Intermediate track.
Recommended Readings
NOTE: We don't assume any prior reading for our workshop, but if you'd like to learn a bit more about SNA, the below articles and books are a good start.
Brass, D. J. (2012). A social network perspective on organizational psychology. In S. W. J. Kozlowski (ed.), Oxford Handbook of Organizational Psychology, 667-695. New York, Oxford University Press. [pdf]
Brass, D. J. (2022). New developments in social network analysis. The Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior. 9:225-46. [pdf]
Borgatti, S.P., Brass, D.J., & Halgin, D. S. (2014). Social network research: Confusions, criticisms, and controversies. In D. J. Brass, G. Labianca, A. Mehra, D. S. Halgin, & S. Borgatti (eds.), Research in the Sociology of Organizations, 1-33. Emerald. [pdf]
Borgatti, S.P., Mehra, A., Brass, D. and Labianca, G. (2009). Network analysis in the social sciences. Science, Vol. 323. no. 5916, 892-895. [pdf]
Borgatti, S.P. & Halgin, D.S. (2011). On Network Theory. Organization Science. September/October 2011 22(5):1168-1181. [pdf]
Borgatti, SP, Everett, MG & Johnson, JC. (2018). Analyzing Social Networks 2nd Ed. Sage Publications UK. [website] [Amazon]
TA contact information
Xiwen Zhao: xiwen.zhao@uky.edu
Chenduo Du: c.du@uky.edu
Logistics contact information
Scott Soltis: scott.m.soltis@uky.edu
Instructor contact information
Rich DeJordy: dejordy@gmail.com
Dan Brass: daniel.brass@uky.edu
Dan Halgin: dhalgin@gmail.com