EH125-7-SU-CO:
Introduction to Social Network Analysis
2022/23
Essex Summer School in Social Science Data Analysis
Colchester Campus
Summer
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Monday 24 April 2023
Friday 30 June 2023
30
03 February 2023
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
This course will provide a practical, but comprehensive introduction to the analysis of social networks. Social network analysis takes the view that social research should not solely focus on the individual unit of analysis, but rather emphasises that researchers should also incorporate the social relations (networks) that connect these individual units (actors). For example, we might be interested in friendship among schoolchildren, trust among employees, collaboration among NGOs, exchanges of resources among companies, or conflict among nations.
The course focuses on the description and visualisation of social network data using social network packages in R, although most exercises can also be performed with UCINET. We will concentrate on uncovering structural properties of the network (e.g. density, homophily, and clustering), as well as on how to identify important persons in a network (e.g. degree centrality, structural holes, …). We will also pay attention to the detection of subgroups and deal with basic hypothesis testing for social network analysis. Throughout the course some classic theories that focus on network processes (e.g. related to homophily, centrality measures, structural holes, Granovetter's strength of weak ties and small worlds) will be discussed.
No information available.
Participants will obtain a thorough understanding of the main theories and (basic) methods of social network analysis. Having taken this module, students should be able to design and carry out a social network research studies, as well as be able to interpret network analyses in a consultancy setting.
Course Pre-requisites
Participants need to be familiar with basic mathematical notation provided in an elementary introductory statistics module (e.g. know when to reject a null hypothesis and be able to read a regression output). Emphasis is on understanding and interpretative methods, not on the underlying mathematics. Participants should also be comfortable learning new menu-driven software of complexity, such as Microsoft Excel.
Representative Background Reading
Scott, J. 2000. Social Network Analysis. Newbury Park CA, Sage.
Required Reading – this text will be provided by ESS:
Borgatti, S. P., Everett, M. G., Johnson, J. C., & Agneessens, F. (2022). Analyzing Social Networks Using R. SAGE.
Module information will be made available at https://essexsummerschool.com/.
Please contact essexsummerschoolssda@essex.ac.uk and govpgquery@essex.ac.uk with any queries.
No information available.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Assessement one |
|
50% |
| Coursework |
Assessement Two |
|
50% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
No
No
No
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
Disclaimer: The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its Module Directory is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can
be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements,
industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to modules may for example consist
of variations to the content and method of delivery or assessment of modules and other services, to discontinue modules and other services and to merge or combine modules.
The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.
The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.