Analyzing Social Networks

Written by a stellar team of experts, Analyzing Social Networks is a practical book on how to collect, visualize, analyze and interpret social network data with a particular emphasis on the use of the software tools UCINET and Netdraw. The book includes a clear and detailed introduction to the fundamental concepts of network analyses, including centrality, subgroups, equivalence and network structure, as well as cross-cutting chapters that helpfully show how to apply network concepts to different kinds of networks. Written using simple language and notation with few equations, this book masterfully covers the research process, including: · The initial design stage · Data collection and manipulation · Measuring key variables · Exploration of structure · Hypothesis testing · Interpretation This is an essential resource for students, researchers and practitioners across the social sciences who want to use network analysis as part of their research. Available with Perusall—an eBook that makes it easier to prepare for class Perusall is an award-winning eBook platform featuring social annotation tools that allow students and instructors to collaboratively mark up and discuss their SAGE textbook. Backed by research and supported by technological innovations developed at Harvard University, this process of learning through collaborative annotation keeps your students engaged and makes teaching easier and more effective. Learn more. 

Table of Contents:
Preface Introduction Mathematical Foundations Research Design Data Collection Data Management Multivariate Techniques Used in Network Analysis Visualization Testing Hypotheses Characterizing Whole Networks Centrality Subgroups Equivalence Analyzing Two-Mode Data Large Networks Ego Networks

About the Author :
Stephen P. Borgatti, PhD is the Gatton Endowed Chair of Management at the Gatton College of Business and Economics at the University of Kentucky. He has published extensively in management journals, as well as cross-disciplinary journals such as Science and Social Networks. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles on network analysis, garnering more than 80,000 Google Scholar citations. With Martin Everett, Steve is co-author of UCINET, a well-known software package for social network analysis, as well as founder of the annual LINKS Center workshop on social network analysis. He is also a two-term past president of INSNA (the professional association for network researchers) and winner of their Simmel Award for lifetime achievement. Martin Everett is Professor of Social Network Analysis and co-director of the Mitchell Centre for SNA at the University of Manchester. He has published extensively on social network analysis and has over 100 peer-reviewed articles and consulted with government agencies as well as public and private companies. With Stephen Borgatti, Martin is co-author of UCINET, a well-known software package for social network analysis and is co-editor of the journal Social Networks. He is also a past President of INSNA (the professional association for network researchers) and winner of their Simmel Award for lifetime achievement. He was elected as an academician to the UK Academy of Social Sciences in 2004.  Jeffrey C. Johnson, PhD is University Term Professor of Anthropology at the University of Florida. He is a former program manager with the Army Research Office (IPA), where he started the basic science research program in the social sciences. He has conducted extensive long-term research, supported by the National Science Foundation, comparing group dynamics and the evolution of social networks of over-wintering crews at the American South Pole Station with those at the Polish, Russian, Chinese, and Indian Antarctic Stations. In related research, he has studied aspects of team cognition and social networks on success in simulated space missions. He is a winner of INSNA’s Simmel Award for lifetime achievement. He has published extensively in anthropological, sociological, biological, aerospace, and marine science journals and was the founding editor of the Journal of Quantitative Anthropology, co-editor of the journal Human Organization, and is the author of Selecting Ethnographic Informants (Sage, 1990).

Review :
'Literature concerning social network analysis has been enriched by one more book dealing with this phenomenon. [...] The examples are drawn from a variety of fields - anthropology, sociology, management, and health care. The book could be useful for a broad range of specialists in different scientific spheres. The book is a general introduction to doing network analysis based on network theory and focused on methodology of research design and data collection' -- Stanislava Yordanova Stoyanova 'The authors have divided each chapter into short sections that make it easy to read since they orient the reader to the needed content. Almost all sections are supported with graphs, figures and tables that explain the different research steps a social network analyst should go through starting from the design to the interpretation of results. For the authors to satisfy a larger audience, they have employed a simple language that students, researchers, teachers and practitioners can understand. All in all, the book remains an excellent reference and guide to help a worker in SNA succeed in his analysis especially with the wide number of illustrations, figures and examples present all though the book' -- Nadia Idri The best introduction to the analysis of social networks. All the basic techniques are there, easily digestible and ready to apply to tangible research problems. -- Michael Schwartz, Professor We've been waiting for this book for a long time. Masters of their craft, Borgatti, Everett and Johnson guide us through the excitement and challenges of social network analysis. It will be your companion on all of your analytic journeys. -- Barry Wellman, S.D. Clark Professor of Sociology