Introduction to SNA
Overview
A non-technical 3-day course led by Dan Brass, Rich DeJordy and Dan Halgin
Starting June 22, it meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:30-11:30 and 1:30-3:30 (12 contact hours).
This workshop provides a balanced introduction to social network analysis, including theoretical concepts and network measures, using software and interpreting results. The morning modules on Monday and Wednesday provide a theoretical, historical and empirical overview of the field led by Dan Brass, a pioneer of social network research in organizations. Other modules, led by Rich DeJordy and Dan Halgin, introduce the main concepts of SNA, including centrality, cohesion, and social capital, and demonstrate routines using UCINET and Netdraw software. Participants are encouraged to follow along on their own machines. Please read the software information below about the Windows-based programs that we will use. Although our expertise is primarily in social networks and management research, we do our best to incorporate examples relevant to participants with backgrounds in education, health, history, and other disciplines. Courtney Hart and Xiwen Zhao will serve as teaching assistants for this workshop.
Schedule
Monday, June 22
AM: A theoretical, historical, and empirical overview of the field: Part 1 (led by Dan Brass)
PM: An introduction to UCINET and Netdraw (led by Rich DeJordy)
Tuesday, June 23
Lab exercises
TA office hours
Wednesday, June 24
AM: A theoretical, historical, and empirical overview of the field: Part 2 (led by Dan Brass)
PM: Whole network measures (led by Rich DeJordy)
Thursday, June 25
Lab exercises
TA office hours
Friday, June 26
AM: Centrality (led by Dan Halgin)
PM: Ego networks: Brokerage & social capital (led by Dan Halgin)
Monday, June 29
Lab exercises
TA office hours
Software
We introduce participants to the use of UCINET and Netdraw. Both are Windows programs. If you are a Mac or Linux user, we recommend installing Windows via an emulator to seamlessly run UCINET and Netdraw. We recommend Windows Emulators that provide a native Windows context as that will be used in the examples, exercises, and demonstrations during the workshop. Examples include Parallels and VMware Fusion for MacOS or VMware Workstation and QEMU for Linux. We will not be able to provide technical support related to problems arising from different operating platforms during the workshop. Visit our software page for more information.
UCINET (includes NetDraw)
Make sure you have version 6.705 or later. If not, download and install the current version
Please download the 32-bit version only.
After installing, please run this installation exercise to make sure it is running correctly
Not free, but runs for 60 days without a registration code. If someone has previously downloaded the program and the trial period has expired, we can refresh it for the workshop
Installing UCINET also installs helper program Netdraw.exe
The installation procedure creates a folder called UCINET DATA in the user’s Documents folder. This is the folder the user should use for workshop data
Note: Those already familiar with UCINET may want to consider taking the Intermediate track.
Recommended Readings
NOTE: We don't assume any prior reading for our workshop, but if you'd like to learn a bit more about SNA, the below articles and books are a good start.
UCINET Quick-Start Guide [pdf]
Brass, D. J. (2012). A social network perspective on organizational psychology. In S. W. J. Kozlowski (ed.), Oxford Handbook of Organizational Psychology, 667-695. New York, Oxford University Press. [pdf]
Borgatti, S.P., Brass, D.J., & Halgin, D. S. (2014). Social network research: Confusions, criticisms, and controversies. In D. J. Brass, G. Labianca, A. Mehra, D. S. Halgin, & S. Borgatti (eds.), Research in the Sociology of Organizations, 1-33. Emerald. [pdf]
Borgatti, S.P., Mehra, A., Brass, D. and Labianca, G. (2009). Network analysis in the social sciences. Science, Vol. 323. no. 5916, 892-895. [longer pre-pub version]
Borgatti, S.P. & Halgin, D.S. (2011). On Network Theory. Organization Science. September/October 2011 22(5):1168-1181 [pdf]
Borgatti, SP, Everett, MG & Johnson, JC. (2018). Analyzing Social Networks 2nd Ed. Sage Publications UK. [website] [Amazon]
TA contact information
Courtney Hart: courtney.hart@uky.edu
Xiwen Zhao: xiwen.zhao@uky.edu
Logistics contact information
Scott Soltis: scott.m.soltis@uky.edu
Instructor contact information
Rich DeJordy: dejordy@gmail.com
Dan Brass: daniel.brass@uky.edu
Dan Halgin: dhalgin@gmail.com