Network Analysis an
Introduction
Lalit Pankaj
but a social network analysis helps
A social us to specify the properties of these
interconnections such as
structure connectedness, density of ties,
status and role and as such a SNA
is a network of social relations can then be used to interpret social
action except at the abstract level of
structure.
Studying Social Relations
We are increasingly entangled in a web of local and global relations
Need to understand these webs as networks and the impact on various relations
Need to enhance our ability to develop and maintain meaningful relationships
Social network analysis (SNA) to study these relations,
● the various links between actors become visible,
● as well as the densities, strengths and weaknesses of the ties
● understand complex social relations
● basis to manage them and consider interventions
Discussion
There is a saying that the effectiveness and
power of an individual in an organization
depends not just on his or her position in the
formal hierarchy, but on the person’s place in a
variety of networks.
Is there truth in this
and if so, why?
Has anyone conducted a
Network Analysis?
Any ideas what this could
involve?
Discussion
“It is hard to accept the fact that there are
people who play critical roles who don’t show up
in the organisation chart. I’ve never heard
anyone say: This person is a hard networker
and deserves a raise. But network analysis
gives us a tool to measure the contribution of
these social types.” (Malcolm Gladwell)
What could be positive about being a hard
networker, and what could be negative about it?
Social Network Analysis (SNA)
A definition: A social network can be understood as „ … a specific set of linkages
among a defined set of persons, with the additional property that the
characteristics of these linkages as a whole may be used to interpret the social
behaviour of the persons involved…“ (Mitchell 1969)
Network consists of nodes (e.g. people, households, organisations, communities)
and a set of connections/ties/links between the nodes which indicate a
relationship such as between friends, acquaintances, relatives, etc. but also
economic processes such as trade exchange between regions, volume of flows of
goods and traffic, and so on
Social Network Analysis (SNA)
“SNA is the mapping and measuring of relationships and flows between people,
groups, organizations, computers, URLs, and other connected
information/knowledge entities.
Mapping relates to making something visible.
providing an image of a process of relatedness
for example by showing the weakness and strength of something, showing
links and roles such as hubs, boundary spanners, and peripheral players.
Social Network Analysis (SNA)
A SNA also allows for evaluating the number, depth and/or intensity of links or
direct and indirect ties.
It simply means that through mapping linkages we can make complex issues
easier to comprehend.
As such it is a way of conceptualizing and analyzing social life with regard to
structures of relationships among actors.
Social Network Analysis (SNA)
A network has a minimum of three actors or also called nodes.
A node is an entity in a network such as a person and the tie is the link between
the two actors.
We can look at an organisation, a department, a class, and any other collective.
Social Network Analysis (SNA)
Ego Network Group Network
The graph on the left has three nodes and the graph on the right five.
We can look at the linkages from the perspective of Ego, but we can look at links
from the top and thus a collection of individuals and the linkages between them.
Social Network Analysis (SNA)
An undirected graph A directed graph
The first one is a graph with four nodes. It is an undirected graph because there is no indication as to the direction of
the flow of things. In the second graph the direction of movement is indicated, e.g. from A to B and B to C. This
could be a piece of information being moved or a person moving between places.
B, C and D can also be seen as a cycle, something moves from B to C and then D and back to B. A cycle is thus a
path with a minimum of three nodes in which the first and the last node are the same.
Social Network Analysis (SNA)
In-degree Out-degree Reciprocal
In each of the networks, X has a higher centrality than Y. the first graph shows a situation in which x
is the receiver of something which is not being returned. In the second graph it is the other way
around and we might speak of an out-degree relationship. The last graph shows one which indicates
an out- and an in-degree and is therefore a reciprocal relationship. Centrality is an important aspect
in a network analysis because it addresses the issue of who the central person in the network is.
Social Network Analysis (SNA)
Betweenness Closeness
In this graph ‘betweenness’ is highlighted, which quantifies the number of times a
node acts as a bridge along the shortest path between the two nodes. In the graph
above x has the highest centrality with regard to this.
Social Network Analysis (SNA)
The strengths of ties
Another aspect to consider is the strength of ties, which is indicated by the
thickness of the link between actors.
Discussion
Granovetter (1983) argues that weak ties could
actually be more advantageous than strong ties
because weak ties allow an individual to reach a
higher number of other individuals and it makes
it easier to reach individuals outside of one’s
densely tied social group.
Think about this statement for example in the
case of seeking information. Do you think he is
right and if so, why?
Social Network Analysis (SNA)
This is a so
called "Kite
Network"
network which
can be used to
explain basic
aspects of a
SNA.
Social Network Analysis (SNA)
Degree, the number of direct connections a node has. In the case of Toby, these are four
In this network, Vivien has the highest number of active links, as she communicates with six people.
The position of people who have the highest activity within a network is called degree centrality.
Vivien is therefore a hub or connector as she has the highest number of direct connections to other people
in the network.
On a positive note one can say that she will be well informed and has many people to turn to.
Looking at her role critically, one could say that she is also sandwiched and needs other people, e.g.
Hassan to reach people such as Thorben.
This means she is only linked to people who are already linked to each other anyway, which suggests
that she is a member of a clique or in other words a closely knit group of people.
Social Network Analysis (SNA)
Although Vivien’s number of direct connections is higher than Thorben’s, he has a very
good position within the network because he has a place in between two central
constituencies.
This role makes him important, as he serves as a boundary spanner.
That role is also referred to as betweenness centrality.
He is central because if he drops out, Mohammad and Heather would be cut off from
the central part of the network.
On a positive note, he has a very powerful position as a node with high betweenness and
has a huge influence over the resources moving between the poles.
This shows how important the location of a person within a network is.
Social Network Analysis (SNA)
Hassan and Edward are also in a special position within the network because it
allows them to directly and indirectly reach all other members faster than
anyone else.
This means that if the need arises, they are able to access information very
quickly.
Because their route to obtain information is shorter than it is for others, their role is
also referred to as closeness centrality.
Because they are directly linked to Thorben and Vivien and thus have access
to sources of information, they are very important people in securing the flow of
information.
Social Network Analysis (SNA)
Toby’s role should also be mentioned. In this network he is a so called peripheral
player.
Because he is in an ‘edgy’ position he may be overlooked and considered not to
be important.
However, it needs to be remembered that people are members in many different
networks.
He might have a very powerful position in obtaining information or resources
from other networks, which are not available within the network.
This, however, may be more difficult for Vivien as she is occupied with the
information flow within the network.
Social Network Analysis (SNA)
What this network shows is that it is
crucial to acknowledge the role each
member has within a network and
understand that some nodes are very
crucial.
For example if Thorben leaves the
company, the network and thus the flow
of information within the network might
be severely damaged.
Network Analysis
with NetworkX
Network analysis will help us better
understand the complex relationships
between groups of people, fictional
characters, and other kinds of things.
Dataset: Game
of Thrones
"Power resides where men believe
it resides. It's a trick, a shadow on
the wall. And a very small man can
cast a very large shadow." - Varys