Postgraduate Course: Social Network Analysis: Mapping and Exploring the Network Society (PGSP11372)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Postgrad (School of Social and Political Studies) |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | Articulating social network theory and methods, this course seeks to explore the transformations of social life in contemporary societies characterized by the importance of connectedness and geographic mobility. The course will introduce students to the theories, concepts and measures of social network analysis (SNA) through a mixture of classroom teaching and hands-on computer work. It aims to discuss in particular: (1) to what extent social life is more networked in late modern societies; (2) how SNA is a powerful way of capturing empirically social life; (3) to what extent social networks are more individualized; (4) how physical and virtual mobility play an increasing role in meetings and social relationships. Key notions will be addressed and illustrated through both the discussions of major thinkers and the use of the UCINet software and its visualization program NetDraw on real-world data sets. Emphasis will be placed on sociological/social science research, even though students will be free to choose their own topic/discipline for their final essay. No prior knowledge of social network analysis, math or statistics is assumed for this course. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | No |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2013/14 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Course Start Date |
13/01/2014 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
176 )
|
| Additional Notes |
|
| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students should be able to demonstrate:
- A critical understanding of the principal theories, concepts and principles of social network analysis;
- Knowledge that covers and integrates major areas of social network analysis;
- Extensive, detailed and critical knowledge and understanding in one area of SNA linked to a discipline of their choosing;
- A critical awareness of current issues in the field of social network analysis. |
Assessment Information
A series of four exercises (marked out of 5, worth 20% of the total mark) completed and submitted online to the course convenor, so as to assess that students have learnt how to use SNA tools on UCINet.
One 3200 word essay (appendices excluded, worth 80% of the total mark), where students will be asked to use SNA on empirical data to critically address a research question in a discipline of their choosing. |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
The rise of the network society
Half-day workshop run by the Social Network Analysis in Scotland Group (SNAS) about Network data handling and network embeddedness on UCINet
Social capital and social inequalities
Centrality, power and prestige
Communities, homophily and small world
Cohesive subgroups analysis
Mobility, communication technologies and distant social relationships
(two-mode) affiliation networks
Contemporary relationships: between individuality and connectedness
Special session for one-to-one or small-group discussions with students about their final essay |
| Transferable skills |
Students will develop the skills to:
- Work independently on a research question of their choosing;
- Analyse network/quantitative data and display the results graphically to support their argumentation;
- Write a well-argued essay, based on empirical evidence;
- Develop an original and creative response to complex research questions.
|
| Reading list |
Bearman, P. (1997). Generalized Exchange. American Journal of Sociology, 102, 1383-1415.
Cartwright, D. Harary, F. (1956). Structural balance: A generalization of Heider¿s theory. Psychological Review, 63, 277-293.
Castells, M. (2000). The rise of the network society. Blackwell, Oxford.
Finch, J. Mason, J. (1993). Negotiating family responsibilities. New York: Routledge.
Fischer, C. S. (1982). To Dwell Among Friends: Personal Networks in Town and City. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Granovetter, M. (1985). Economic action and social structure: The problem of embeddedness. American Journal of Sociology, 91, 481-510.
Heider, F. (1946). Attitudes and cognitive organization. Journal of Psychology, 21, 107-112.
Heider, F. (1958). The psychology of interpersonal relations. New York: Wiley.
Kadushin, C. (2011). Understanding social networks: Theories, concepts, and findings. Chapter 1. Oxford University Press, USA.
Rainie, L. Wellman, B. (2012). Networked: The new social operating system. MIT Press.
Scott, J. (2012). What is social network analysis? Bloomsbury Academic. Chapter 2.
Urry, J. (2003). Social networks, travel and talk. British Journal of Sociology, 54, 155-175.
Urry, J. (2012). Social networks, mobile lives and social inequalities. Journal of Transport Geography, 21, 24-30.
Van Dijk, J. (1999). The network society: Social aspects of new media. Sage.
Wellman, B. Berkowitz, S.D. (Eds.) (1988). Social Structures: A Network Approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Wellman, B. (2001). Physical place and cyberspace: The rise of personalized networking. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 25, 227-252.
De Nooy, W. Mrvar, A. Batagelj, V. (2005). Exploratory social network analysis with Pajek. Chapters 1-2. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hanneman, R. A. Riddle, M. Introduction to social network methods. Chapters 1-5 and 7-8. http://faculty.ucr.edu/~hanneman/nettext/
Kadushin, C. (2011). Understanding social networks: Theories, concepts, and findings. Chapters 2-3. Oxford University Press, USA.
Knoke, D. Yang, S. (2007). Social Network Analysis. Quantitative Applications in the Social Sciences. Chapters 1-4. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage.
Scott, J. (2012). Social network analysis. 3rd Edition. Chapters 1-4. London: Sage Publications.
Wasserman, S. Faust, K. (1994). Social Network Analysis: Methods and Applications. Chapters 1-2 and 4. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Burt, R. S., 1992. Structural holes: The social structure of competition. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA.
Burt, R. S. (2005). Brokerage and closure: An introduction to social capital. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Coleman, J. S. (1988). Social Capital in the Creation of Human Capital. American Journal of Sociology, 94(S1), 95-120.
Crossley, N. (2008). (Net)working out: social capital in a private health club. The British journal of sociology, 59, 475-500.
Edwards, R. Franklin, J. Holland, J. (2003). Families and social capital: exploring the issues. London: South Bank University.
Granovetter, M. S. (1973). The Strength of Weak Ties. American Journal of Sociology, 78(6), 1360-1380.
Kadushin, C. (2011). Understanding social networks: Theories, concepts, and findings. Chapter 10. Oxford University Press, USA.
Knoke, D. (2001). Changing Organizations: Business Networks in the New Political Economy. Boulder: Westview.
Lin, N. (1999). Building a network theory of social capital. Connections, 22, 28-51.
Lin, N. (2001). Social capital. A theory of social structure and action. Cambridge University Press, New York.
Lin, N. Cook, K. S. Burt, R. S. (2001). Social capital: theory and research. Aldine de Gruyter.
Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Bonacich, P. (1987). Power and Centrality: A Family of Measures. American Journal of Sociology, 92, 1170-1182.
De Nooy, W. Mrvar, A. Batagelj, V. (2005). Exploratory social network analysis with Pajek. Chapters 6-7 and 9. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hanneman, R. A. Riddle, M. Introduction to social network methods. Chapters 9-10. http://faculty.ucr.edu/~hanneman/nettext/
Ibarra, H. (1993). Network centrality, power and innovation involvement: Determinants of technical and administrative roles. Academy of Management Journal, 36, 471-501.
Kadushin, C. (2011). Understanding social networks: Theories, concepts, and findings. Chapter 3. Oxford University Press, USA.
Knoke, D. Yang, S. (2007). Social Network Analysis. Quantitative Applications in the Social Sciences. Chapter 4. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage.
Krackhardt, D. (1999). Ties that torture: Simmelian tie analysis in organizations. Research in the Sociology of Organizations, 16, 183-210.
Krackhardt, D. Porter, L. W. (1985). When friends leave: A structural analysis of the relationship between turnover and stayers¿ attitudes.¿ Administrative Science Quarterly, 30, 242-261.
Scott, J. (2012). Social network analysis. 3rd Edition. Chapter 5. London: Sage Publications.
Wasserman, S. Faust, K. (1994). Social Network Analysis: Methods and Applications. Chapters 5-6. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Barabási, A.-L. (2003) Linked. New York: Plume.
Bell, C. Newby, H. (1971). Community Studies. London: Allen and Unwin.
Bidart, C. Lavenu, D. (2005). Evolutions of personal networks and life events. Social Networks, 27, 359-376.
Christakis, N. A. Fowler, J. H. (2007). The Spread of Obesity in a Large Social Network over 32 Years. New England Journal of Medicine, 357, 370-379.
Small animation here: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa066082
Crossley, N. (2008). Small-world networks, complex systems and sociology. Sociology, 42, 261-277.
Crossley, N. (2009). The man whose web expanded: Network dynamics in Manchester's post/punk music scene 1976¿1980. Poetics, 37, 24-49.
Crow, G. Maclean, C. (2006) Community. In Payne, G. (Ed.). Social divisions. (pp. 305¿324), Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Dunbar, R. I. M. (1992). Neocortex size as a constraint on group size in primates. Journal of Human Evolution, 20, 469-493.
Feld, S. (1981). The focused organisation of social ties. American Journal of Sociology, 86: 1015-1035.
Feld, S. (1982). Social structural determinants of similarity among associates, American Sociological Review 47, 797-801.
Fischer, C. S. (1982). To Dwell Among Friends: Personal Networks in Town and City. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Guare, J. (1990). Six Degrees of Separation: A Play. New York: Vintage.
Kadushin, C. (2011). Understanding social networks: Theories, concepts, and findings. Chapter 8. Oxford University Press, USA.
Milgram, S. (1967). The Small World Problem, Psychology Today, 2, 60-67.
Scott, J. (2012). Social network analysis. 3rd Edition. Chapter 8. London: Sage Publications.
Simmel, G. (1955 [1908]). The web of group affiliations. In: Conflict and the web of affiliations. Trans. R. Bendix. New York: Free Press, pp. 125-195.
Watts, D. J. (2003). Small worlds: the dynamics of networks between order and randomness. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Watts, D. J. (2004). Six Degrees. London: Vintage.
Watts, D. J. Strogatz, S. H. (1998). Collective Dynamics of Small-World Networks. Nature, 393, 440-442.
Wellman, B. Carrington, P.J. Hall, A. (1988). Networks as personal communities. In Wellman, B., Berkowitz, S.D. (Eds.). Social Structures: A Network Analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Lee M.Y. Ellis, P. D. (2000). Insider-outsider perspectives of guanxi. Business Horizons, (Jan-Feb), 25-30.
De Nooy, W. Mrvar, A. Batagelj, V. (2005). Exploratory social network analysis with Pajek. Chapter 3. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hanneman, R. A. Riddle, M. Introduction to social network methods. Chapter 11. http://faculty.ucr.edu/~hanneman/nettext/
Kadushin, C. (2011). Understanding social networks: Theories, concepts, and findings. Chapter 4. Oxford University Press, USA.
Knoke, D. Yang, S. (2007). Social Network Analysis. Quantitative Applications in the Social Sciences. Chapter 4. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage.
Scott, J. (2012). Social network analysis. 3rd Edition. Chapter 6. London: Sage Publications.
Wasserman, S. Faust, K. (1994). Social Network Analysis: Methods and Applications. Chapter 7. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
De Miguel Luken, V. Tranmer, M. (2010). Personal support networks of immigrants to Spain: A multilevel analysis. Social Networks, 32, 253-262.
Elliott, A., Urry, J. (2010). Mobile Lives. New York: Routledge.
Fischer, C. S. (1982). To Dwell Among Friends: Personal Networks in Town and City. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Larsen, J., Urry, J., Axhausen, K. (2006). Mobilities, Networks, Geographies. Ashgate, Aldershot, UK.
Lubbers, M. J. Molina, J. L. Lerner, J. Brandes, U. Ávila, J. McCarty, C. (2010). Longitudinal analysis of personal networks. The case of Argentinean migrants in Spain. Social Networks, 32, 91-104.
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Mason, J. (2004). Managing Kinship over Long Distances: The Significance of ¿The Visit¿. Social Policy & Society, 3, 421-429.
Urry, J. (2003). Social networks, travel and talk. British Journal of Sociology, 54, 155-175.
Viry, G. (2012). Residential mobility and the spatial dispersion of personal networks: effects on social support. Social Networks, 34, 59-72.
Wellman, B. (2001). Physical place and cyberspace: The rise of personalized networking. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 25, 227-252.
Borgatti, S. P. Everett, M. G. (1997). Network Analysis of 2-Mode Data. Social Networks 19, 243-269.
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Hanneman, R. A. Riddle, M. Introduction to social network methods. Chapter 17. http://faculty.ucr.edu/~hanneman/nettext/
Knoke, D. Yang, S. (2007). Social Network Analysis. Quantitative Applications in the Social Sciences. Chapter 5. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage.
Scott, J. (2012). Social network analysis. 3rd Edition. Chapter 7. London: Sage Publications, 136-138.
Wasserman, S. Faust, K. (1994). Social Network Analysis: Methods and Applications. Chapter 8. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Allan, G. (2008). Flexibility, friendship, and family. Personal Relationships, 15, 1-16.
Allan, G. (2001). Personal relationships in late modernity. Personal Relationships, 8, 325-339.
Byrne, D. (2005 [1999]). Social exclusion. Open University Press.
Finch, J. Mason, J. (1993). Negotiating family responsibilities. London: Routledge.
Li, Y. Savage, M. Pickles, A. (2003). Social capital and social exclusion in England and Wales (1972¿1999). The British journal of sociology, 54, 497-526.
May, V. (Ed.) (2011). Sociology of Personal Life. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
McPherson, M. Smith-Lovin, L. Brashears, M. (2006). Social isolation in America: Changes in core discussion networks over two decades. American Sociological Review, 71, 353-375.
Pahl, R. E. Spencer, L. (2004). Personal Communities: not simply families of 'fate' or 'choice. Current Sociology, 52, 199-221.
Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Rainie, L. Wellman, B. (2012). Networked: The new social operating system. MIT Press.
Roseneil, S. (2005). Living and loving beyond the boundaries of the heteronorm: Personal relationships in the 21st century. In L. McKie, L. Cunningham-Burley, S. (Eds.). Families in society: Boundaries and relationships,Bristol, UK: Policy Press, pp. 241¿258.
Room, G. J. (2002). Social exclusion, solidarity and the challenge of globalization. International journal of social welfare, 8, 166-174.
Wellman, B. Carrington, P.J. Hall, A. (1988). Networks as personal communities. In Wellman, B., Berkowitz, S.D. (Eds.). Social Structures: A Network Analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Wellman, B., Wortley, S. (1990). Different strokes from different folks. American Journal of Sociology, 96, 558-588.
Wellman, B. Frank, K. (2001). Network capital in a multilevel world: Getting support from personal communities. In Lin, N. Cook, K. S. Burt, R. S. Social capital: theory and research. Aldine de Gruyter, pp. 233¿273. |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Gil Viry
Tel: (0131 6)51 5768
Email: Gil.Viry@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Andrew Macaulay
Tel: (0131 6)51 5067
Email: Andrew.Macaulay@ed.ac.uk |
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