Social Network Analysis
History, Theory and Methodology
- Christina Prell - University of Groningen - RuG, Netherlands
This engaging book represents these interdependencies' positive and negative consequences, their multiple effects and the ways in which a local occurrence in one part of the world can directly affect the rest. Then it demonstrates precisely how these interactions and relationships form.
This is a book for the social network novice learning how to study, think about and analyse social networks; the intermediate user, not yet familiar with some of the newer developments in the field; and the teacher looking for a range of exercises, as well as an up-to-date historical account of the field.
It is divided into three clear sections:
1. historical & Background Concepts
2. Levels of Analysis
3. Advances, Extensions and Conclusions
The book provides a full overview of the field - historical origins, common theoretical perspectives and frameworks; traditional and current analytical procedures and fundamental mathematical equations needed to get a foothold in the field.
Very good discussion of descriptive and inferential network analysis. A must-read for people starting with network analysis in her own research.
The level at which the subject matter is treated is not appropriate for my graduate and advanced undergraduate Social Network Analysis courses.
I have recommended this to students studying research methods as well as dissertation students undertaking network analysis as part of their projects. It is a user friendly guide, which avoids the unnecessary complexity of rival texts and inspires confidence in those considering this as an approach in their work.
Social networks are taking a central stage in every aspect of today’s globalizing lives. This interconnected world demands a better understanding of networks and their structures. As a consequence plethora of books were written. This recent book sheds light on the history, theory and methodology of social network analysis. It is not only a timely contribution but it also contains fundamental knowledge about various aspects of social network analysis. It begins by introducing the history of the method. In the second part it concentrates on different levels of analyses including actor level, dyad and triad levels, cohesive subgroup level and network level. In every chapter measuring the relevant level and features are given in relation to the relevant literature as well as mathematical calculations. Moreover, it also explains how to use the measurements meaningfully and operationalize them in UCINET and NetDraw. Next chapter (9) deals with positional and role analyses. Subsequently, last part is devoted to both statistical models for advanced students and a very short concluding remarks. It is definitely worth reading and can be used for teaching easily. It is easy to read and follow the author.
This is an accessible yet competent introduction to SNA. I will use it in an introductory undergraduate course to research methods. The first chapters describing the broad outlines of the method will make for recommended readings.
This is a great resource that brings some much needed 21st century thinking into the course reading list
A very nice book that is long needed to teach Social Network Analysis. Many earlier textbooks were either too technical or too shallow. This book is structured nicely and built up in a way so that it can be used efficiently for a course.
I was hoping the book was moving a little further towards using SNA i organisational analysis. Though the book is a nice read, it doesnt provide a better text book, than the SNA by John Scott. I am still in a search for a good text book that takes the ONS approach rather than SNA.
