Social networks are a means to understand social structures. This has become increasingly relevant with the shift towards mediated interaction. Now we can observe and often analyse links at a scale that far outpaces what was possible only decades ago. While this prompts new methodologies, the large-scale networks we can observe can still be informed by classis questions in social network analysis.
In this class, we take a brisk tour through the classic ideas of social network analysis including preferential attachment, small worlds, homophily, the friendship paradox and clustering. Bernie demonstrates how these ideas are not only applicable to modern digital networks but have been updated with interesting insights fromdata on Twitter, Facebook and the World Wide Web itself.
This is an introductory class, an advanced class session is planned for 2018.
Readings:
Hidalgo, C.A. (2016). Disconnected, fragmented, or united? A trans-disciplinary review of network science. Applied Network Science, 1(6), 1-19 . http://doi.org/10.1007/s41109-016-0010-3
Hogan, B. (2017). Online Social Networks: Concepts for Data Collection and Analysis. In Fielding, N.G., Lee, R., & Blank, G. (eds). The Sage Handbook of Online Research Methods. Thousand Oaks, Ca: Sage Publications. Pp. 241-258 Retrieved from https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3047869
Harrington, H.A., Beguerisse-diaz, M., Rombach, M.P., Keating, L. M., & Porter, M.A. (2013). Commentary: Teach network science to teenagers. Network Science, 1(2), 226-247. http://doi.org/10.1017/nws.2013.11
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