Analysis of Social Networks

COURSE OBJECTIVES
Introduce participants to the main concepts, methods and application of social network analysis

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Networks describe how agents in a system are connected. Networks are “social” to the extent that their nodes are occupied by agents with preferences, goals, cognitions, and strategies. Economic transactions, social relations, and communication are examples of interactive processes that may be both antecedents and consequences of connections among agents. INF 524 introduces a wide range of descriptive, inferential and model-based approaches for the representation and analysis of various kinds of social networks. During the course, we will discuss recent research papers that illustrate the application of network-analytic concepts to core problems in the study of individual and collective behavior. Examples from biology, ecology and health policy will also be discussed to illustrate the general applicability of social network models and concepts.

LEARNING METHODS
Lectures and exercises

EXAMINATION INFORMATION
One midterm test (20%); Three individual assignments (30%); One individual final exam (50%)

REFERENCES

General Reference books for this course are:

• Barabási, A.L., 2016. Network Science. Cambridge University Press. http://networksciencebook.com/
• Easley, D. and Kleinberg, J., 2010. Networks, crowds, and markets. Cambridge University press. https://www.stat.berkeley.edu/~aldous/206-SNET/Papers/easley-kleinberg.pdf
• Wasserman, S., & Faust, K. 1994. Social network analysis: Methods and applications (Vol. 8). Cambridge University Press. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1995-97740-000

 More specific readings will be indicated in class.