Social Network Analysis, what is that:
Social Network Analysis (SNA) is a methodological approach used in sociology, anthropology, organizational studies, and other social sciences to study and analyze social structures. The primary focus of SNA is on the relationships and interactions between individuals, groups, or organizations within a given network.
In a social network, entities (nodes) are connected by relationships (edges). These entities can represent individuals, organizations, countries, or any other social units, while the relationships can signify various types of connections, such as friendships, collaborations, communication channels, or other forms of interaction.
Key concepts in Social Network Analysis include:
Nodes: These are the entities in the network, representing individuals or groups.
Edges: These are the connections or relationships between nodes. Edges can be binary (indicating a presence or absence of a connection) or weighted (representing the strength or intensity of the relationship).
Degree: The number of connections a node has is known as its degree. High-degree nodes are often referred to as hubs.
Centrality: Centrality measures identify nodes that play crucial roles in the network. Nodes with high centrality may be influential, well-connected, or act as intermediaries.
Clustering: Clustering measures the extent to which nodes in a network tend to form groups or clusters. It reflects the degree of cohesion within subgroups.
Path Length: This refers to the number of edges that must be traversed to connect one node to another. Short path lengths can indicate a tightly connected network.
Social Network Analysis is applied in various fields, including:
- Sociology: Studying social relationships and structures.
- Organizational Studies: Analyzing communication and collaboration patterns within organizations.
- Epidemiology: Examining the spread of diseases within populations.
- Information Science: Understanding information flow and influence in online networks.
- Anthropology: Investigating social relationships in different cultural contexts.
SNA involves the use of mathematical and statistical techniques to analyze and visualize networks. Network diagrams, centrality measures, and other visualizations help researchers understand the patterns and dynamics of social relationships within a given context.
Shervan K Shahhian
LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 