Introduction to Social Network Methods
This course provides an introduction to the concepts and methods needed to
conduct social network analysis. The topics covered include elementary social
network constructs, social cohesion and social positions in social networks,
macro-models of social network structure, and structural bases and indicators
of social influence.
Class: Sociology 148MA/248MA, Winter 2008, TR Phelps 3523 (2:00-3:15), Ellison
2626 (3:30-4:30)
Instructor: Noah Friedkin
Office Hours: TR 4:30-5:30 Ellison 2806; 893-2840; friedkin@soc.ucsb.edu
Readings: Click on the highlighted titles below
Class Schedule:
Weeks 1-2 (Jan 9-17): Network Relations
Elementary Network Constructs and Network Visualization
Reading Assignment:
Granovetter, Mark 1973 "The Strength of Weak Ties." American Journal of Sociology 78: 1360-80.
Friedkin, Noah E. 1983. "Horizons of Observability and Limits of Informal Control in Organizations." Social Forces 62: 54-77.
Optional:
Harary, Frank, Robert Z. Norman and Dorwin Cartwright 1965. Structural Models: An Introduction to the Theory of Directed Graphs. New York: John Wiley.
Weeks 3-4 (Jan 22 - 31): Structural Cohesion
Structural Cohesion and Cohesive Subgroups
Balance Theory and Network Macrostructures
Reading Assignment:
Davis, James A. 1963. "Structural Balance, Mechanical Solidarity, and Interpersonal Relations." American Journal of Sociology 68: 444-462.
Davis, James A. 1970. "Clustering and Hierarchy in Interpersonal Relations: Testing Two Graph Theoretical Models on 742 Sociomatrices." American Sociological Review 35: 843-851.
Optional:
Johnsen, Eugene C. 1985. "Network Macrostructure Models for the Davis-Leinhardt Set of Empirical Sociomatrices" Social Networks 7: 203-24.
Freeman, Linton C. 1992. "The Sociological Concept of Group: An Empirical Test of Two Models." American Journal of Sociology 98: 152-166.
Weeks 5-6 (Feb 5 - 14): Social Space and Multidimensional Scaling
Social Distance and Multidimensional Scaling
Reading Assignment:
Burt, Ronald S. 1976. "Positions in Networks" Social Forces. 55: 93-122.
Laumann, Edward O. and Peter V. Marsden. 1979. "The Analysis of Oppositional Structures in Political Elites: Identifying Collective Actors" American Sociological Review 44: 713-732.
Optional:
Kruskal, Joseph B. and Myron Wish. 1978. Multidimensional Scaling. Beverly Hills: Sage.
Weeks 7-8 (Feb 19 - 28): Blockmodels and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis
Cluster Analysis and Blockmodels
Reading Assignment:
H. C. White, S. A. Boorman, and R. L. Breiger. 1976. "Social Structure From Multiple Networks, I: Blockmodels of Roles and Positions" American Journal of Sociology, 81, pp. 730-780.
Padgett, John F. and Christopher K. Ansell. 1993. "Robust Action and the Rise of the Medici, 1400-1434." American Journal of Sociology 98:1259-1319.
Optional:
Aldenderfer, Mark S. and Roger K. Blasfield. 1984. Cluster Analysis. Beverly Hills: Sage.
Weeks 9- 10 (Mar 4-13): Structural Bases of Interpersonal Influence
Self-Weight, Visibility, and Salience
Reading Assignment:
Freeman Linton C. 1979. "Centrality in Social Networks: A Conceptual Clarification." Social Networks 1: 211-213.
Brass, Daniel J. 1984. "Being in the Right Place: A Structural Analysis of Individual Influence in an Organization" Administrative Science Quarterly 29: 518-539.
Optional:
Friedkin, Noah E. 1991. "Theoretical Foundations for Centrality Measures." American Journal of Sociology 96: 1478-1504.