The 2007-2008 British Sociological Association/National Centre for Research Methods Social Network Analysis Seminar Series
Applications, Developments, Theories and the Quantitative-Qualitative Interface
This series of four one-day seminars and two instructional workshops was organised by members of the British Sociological Association's Social Network Analysis Group (SNAG) and was funded by the National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM). The aim of the series was to promote the practice of social network analysis in British social science and to contribute to the development of this distinctive and important research methodology. Speakers were asked to pitch their talks at an introductory level, so as to make the seminars accessible to all interested parties, but all addressed cutting edge issues.
The organising team were (in alphabetical order):
- Nick Crossley (University of Manchester)
- Daniela D'Andreta (University of Manchester)
- Christina Prell (University of Sheffield)
- John Scott (University of Essex)
Brief seminar summaries
Applications
27th September 2007
University of Manchester
The series began with an exploration of certain key applications of network analysis, including applications in social movement analysis, criminology, socio-linguistics and the study of literary networks. The aim was both to facilitate cross-pollination between domains of application and to offer exemplars of the method in action for those new to this approach.
Speakers
- Mario Diani (University of Trento, Italy): Civil Society and Collective Action: A Social Network Perspective.
- Peter Klerks (PVDA, Amsterdam, Netherlands): SNA in Law Enforcement: A Progress Report From the Netherlands.
- Miriam Meyerhoff (Edinburgh, UK): Shared Networks, Shared Practices: A Look into the Sociolinguist's Toolkit.
- Wouter de Nooy (Erasmus Universiteit, Rotterdam, Netherlands ): From A Sociocentric to an Actor Oriented Approach: the Case of Literary Criticism.
For a more detailed account and further materials from the day click here
Developments
13th December 2007
University of Sheffield
This seminar focused upon a number of recent developments in social network analysis, in particular those centring upon the use of statistical methods and models. Its aim was to afford UK network analysts the opportunity to learn about 'state of the art' techniques and developments.
Speakers
- Katherine Faust (University of California, Irvine, USA ) : Triadic Structure in Social Networks
- Phillipa Pattison (University of Melbourne, Australia ): Exponential Random Graph Models for Social Networks
- Tom Snijders (Oxford University, UK ): Which Structural Tendencies Drive Network Dynamics?
- Christina Prell (Sheffield University, UK): Small Worlds and Social Capital
For a more detailed account and further materials from the day.
Theories
15th January 2008
University of Manchester
This seminar focused upon the underlying social theories which inform social network analysis and the possible implications of network analysis for contemporary social theory. The aim was to bridge the gap between theory and methods and also to contribute to the development of theoretical understanding and debate within network analysis.
Speakers
- Harrison White (Columbia University, USA): Style and Networks
- John Levi Martin (University of Wisconsin , USA): From Networks to Fields
- John Scott (Essex University, UK): Critical Reflections on Social Physics
A more detailed account and further materials from the day
The Quantitative-Qualitative Interface
11th March 2008
University of Essex
The final seminar engaged with current attempts to re-energise the qualitative aspect and possibilities of network analysis, without abandoning the considerable quantitative developments of the last decade. Both archival and ethnographic sources and forms of data were discussed. The aim of the seminar was to contribute to the development of network analysis as a methodology and to both attract and excite the interest of qualitative researchers who might otherwise see no scope for engagement with network analysis.
Speakers
- Betina Hollstein (Humboldt Universität, Berlin) Qualitative Methods in Network Analysis (overheads paper).
- Nick Crossley and Gemma Edwards (both University of Manchester, UK) Network and Text-work: the Letter Writing of the British Suffragettes.
- Deirdre Kirke (National University of Ireland, Maynooth) Chain Reactions in Social Networks.
- Mike Savage, Gindo Tampubolon and Alan Warde (all University of Manchester, UK) Associational Networks and Urban Identifications: Case Studies from Manchester.
A more detailed account and further materials from the day.
Workshops
In addition to the seminars, a one-day introductory workshop was run on two separate occasions in Manchester:
- Thursday 13th September 2007
- Monday 14th January 2008
This workshop, taught by Nick Crossley, offered a practical introduction to network analysis for those with no prior knowledge. The workshop involved a morning session, where basic concepts were introduced, and an afternoon session, where participants enjoyed a hands on introduction to the Pajek network analysis software. The workshop was pitched at absolute beginners.
Nick Crossley's workshop overhead slides.