Pro*Doc Communication and Health
Social Network Analysis
Date: 5, 6 and 7 November 2009
Location: University of Lugano
Lecturer: Prof. Alessandro Lomi
Course Objectives
Social network analysis is not a formal or coherent body of theory but rather a broad strategy for investigating a number of problems that are of interest to students of organizations and management. Yet, the diffusion and popularity of social network analysis in contemporary social science would be unconceivable without the presence of underlying theoretical ideas about how relevant units (which may be individuals, groups, companies, entire countries but also problems, tasks, routines and other types of organizational objects) interact across levels of analysis. During the course we will elaborate on this claim by reviewing the basic conceptual tools for the analysis of social networks. A number of hands-on exercises on the analysis of small relational data sets will provide opportunities to practice analytical skills that participants may then be able to transfer directly to their own research problems and contexts.
Pre-Course Activities
The following readings have to be completed prior to the beginning of the course:
Borgatti, S.P. and Foster, P. 2003. “The network paradigm in organizational research: A review and typology”. Journal of Management. 29(6): 991-1013
Brass, D.J., Galaskiewicz, J., Greve, H.R., and Tsai, W. 2004. “Taking stock of networks and organizations: A multilevel perspective”. Academy of Management Journal, 47: 795- 817.
Granovetter, M. 1985. “Economic action and social structure: the problem of embeddedness”. The American Journal of Sociology, Vol. 91, No. 3: 481-510
Program:
Session I: Introduction to the study of Networks (Lecture).
6 November 2009, 9:00-12:00, room pc 004
Preparatory reading:
Watts, D.J. 1999. Networks, Dynamics, and the Small-World Phenomenon. American Journal of Sociology, Vol. 105(2): 493-527.
Granovetter, M. 1973. The Strength of Weak Ties. American Journal of Sociology, Vol. 78(6): 1360-1380.
Session II: Network Centrality Measures (Computer Lab).
6 November 2009, 14:00-17:00, room pc 004
Preparatory reading:
Freeman, L.C. 1979. Centrality in Social Networks: Conceptual Clarification. Social Networks, 1: 215-239.
Bonacich, P. 1987. Power and centrality: A family of measures. American Journal of Sociology, 92: 1170-1182
Data sets: KYTE.TXT; HITECH_m.TXT.
Advanced reading material:
Everett, M. G., and Borgatti, S. P. 1999. The centrality of groups and classes. Journal of Mathematical Sociology, 23(3): 181-201.
Burt, R. 1992. Structural Holes: the Social Structure of Competition. Cambridge, MA. Cambridge University Press. Chapters 1 and 2 (pp. 8-81)
Session III: Network data and the identification of cliques and other cohesive subsets (Lecture).
7 November 2009, 9:00-12:00, room pc 004
Preparatory reading:
Breiger, R. 1974. The duality of persons and groups. Social Forces, 53: 181-190.
Granovetter, M. 1973. The Strength of Weak Ties. American Journal of Sociology, 78 (6): 1360-1380.
Marsden, P.V. 1990. Network data and measurement. Annual Review of Sociology, 16:435-63.
Advanced reading material:
Freeman, L. 1992. The Sociological Concept of ‘Group’: An Empirical Test of Two Models." American Journal of Sociology, 98: 55-79.
Yanjie, Bian 1997. Bringing strong ties back in: Indirect ties, network bridges, and job searches in China. American Sociological Review. 62:366-385.
Yanjie Bian, Ronald Breiger, Deborah Davis, and Joseph Galaskiewicz. 2005. Occupation, Class, and Social Networks in Urban China. Social Forces, 83: 1443-1468.
Teaching Material
Introduction to Social Network Analysis (Slides by Guido Conaldi)