DOCSLIB.ORG

Social Networking Analysis

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Social Networking Analysis Social Networking Analysis Kevin Curran and Niamh Curran Abstract A social network indicates relationships between people or organisations and how they are connected through social familiarities. The concept of social net- work provides a powerful model for social structure, and that a number of important formal methods of social network analysis can be perceived. Social network analysis can be used in studies of kinship structure, social mobility, science citations, con- tacts among members of nonstandard groups, corporate power, international trade exploitation, class structure and many other areas. A social network structure is made up of nodes and ties. There may be few or many nodes in the networks or one or more different types of relations between the nodes. Building a useful understanding of a social network is to sketch a pattern of social relationships, kinships, community structure, interlocking dictatorships and so forth for analysis. 1 Introduction Communication is and has always been vital to the growth and the development of human society. An individual’s attitudes opinions and behaviours can only be characterised in a group or community [5]. Social networking is not an exact science, it can be described as a means of discovering the method in which problems are solved, how individuals achieve goals and how businesses and operations are run. In network theory, social networks are discussed in terms of node and ties (see Fig. 1). Nodes are individual actors and ties are relationships within networks. The social capital of individual nodes/actors can be measured through social network diagrams, as can measures of determination of the usefulness of the network to the actors individually [4]. The shape of a social network helps determine a network’s K. Curran (B) · N. Curran School of Computing and Intelligent Systems, Faculty of Computing and Engineering, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, UK e-mail: [email protected] N. Bessis and C. Dobre (eds.), Big Data and Internet of Things: 367 A Roadmap for Smart Environments, Studies in Computational Intelligence 546, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-05029-4_15, © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014 368 K. Curran and N. Curran Fig. 1 Social networking diagram usefulness to its individuals. Smaller, tighter networks can be less useful to their members than networks with lots of weak ties to individuals outside the main network. More open networks, with many weak ties and social connections, are more likely to introduce new ideas and opportunities to their members than closed networks with many redundant ties. In other words, a group of friends who only do things with each other already share the same knowledge and opportunities. A group of individuals with connections to other social worlds is likely to have access to a wider range of information. It is better for individual success to have connections to a variety of networks rather than many connections within a single network. Similarly, individuals can exercise influence or act as brokers within their social networks by bridging two networks that are not directly linked essentially filling structural holes [1]. Resulting graphs from node/tie diagrams can be complex. Social Networks operate on many different levels from families up to nations, and play a critical role in determining the way problems are solved, organisations are run and the degree in which people succeed in achieving their goals. Below is an example of a social network diagram, the node with the highest betweenness centrality (Betweenness— The extent to which a node lies between other nodes in the network. This measure takes into account the connectivity of the node’s neighbours, giving a higher value for nodes which bridge clusters. The measure reflects the number of people who a person is connecting indirectly through their direct links, and Centrality—measure Social Networking Analysis 369 giving a rough indication of the social power of a node based on how well they “connect” the network) is marked in yellow [11]. A few analytic tendencies distinguish social network analysis. There is no assump- tion that groups are the building blocks of society: the approach is open to studying less-bounded social systems, from nonlocal communities to links among websites. Rather than treating individuals (persons, organizations, states) as discrete units of analysis, it focuses on how the structure of ties affects individuals and their relation- ships. In contrast to analyses that assume that socialization into norms determines behaviour, network analysis looks to see the extent to which the structure and com- position of ties affect norms. In fact, long before it became the commercialised and significant entertainment juggernaut that it is today, social networking was nothing more than a theory. How- ever, this theory of social networking stems back as far as the late 1800s as numer- ous sociologists were able to outline its basic principles [6]. German sociologist, Ferdinand Tönnies was a major contributor to sociological theory and it was him who initially highlighted that social groups exist by containing individuals which are linked together through shared beliefs and values. By the turn of the twentieth century, another major German sociologist, Georg Simmel became the first scholar to think appropriately in social network terms. Simmel produced a series of essays that pinpointed the nature of network size. He further displayed an understanding of social networking with his writings as he highlighted that social interaction existed within loosely-knit networks as opposed to groups [9]. The next real significant growth of social networking didn’t really commence until the 1930s when three main social networking traditions emerged. The first tradition to emerge was pioneered by Jacob Levy Moreno, who was recognised as one of the leading social scientists. Moreno began the systematic recording and analysis of social interaction in smaller groups such as work groups and classrooms. The second tradition was founded by a Harvard group which began to focus specifically on interpersonal relations at work. The third tradition originated from Alfred Radcliffe-Brown, an English social anthropologist. Radcliffe-Brown strongly urged the systematic studies of networks; ‘Social Network Analysis’ was born. However, SNA did not advance further until the 1950s. This was when social network analysis was developed through the kinship studies of Elizabeth Bott who studied at the University of Manchester in England. It was here that the University’s group of anthropologists began a series of investigations of community networks in regions such as Africa and India [11]. This research set the trend as more universities began similar investigations and studies as time progressed. During the 1960s a group of students at Harvard University began work to unite the different tracks and traditions already associated with social networking. Additional research was carried out in universities such as the University of California, Irvine and the University of Toronto. The latter contained a sociology group that emerged in the 1970s. The research undertook by this group argued that viewing the world in terms of social networks provided a greater analytical advantage. This view is also supported by Wasserman, S. and K. Faust, 1994, in their Social Network Analysis writings in the Cambridge University Press as they explain the extent of which SNA provides analytical advantage; “The unit of analysis in network analysis is not the individual, 370 K. Curran and N. Curran but an entity consisting of a collection of individuals and the linkages among them”. In recent times, social networking theories have been put aside as social networking has transferred to social media such as social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace. Although nowadays social networking is seen as more of an entertainment package, its roots stem back to the theoretical studies of sociologists such as Tönnies and Simmel as well as the progression of Social Network Analysis [7]. 2 Social Networking Social groups can exist as personal and direct social ties that either link individuals who share values and beliefs or impersonal, formal, and instrumental social links. Durkheim gave a non-individualistic explanation of social facts arguing that social phenomena arise when interacting individuals constitute a reality that can no longer be accounted for in terms of the properties of individual actors. He distinguished between a traditional society—“mechanical solidarity”—which succeeds if individ- ual differences are lessened, and the modern society that develops out of support between differentiated individuals with independent roles. Social network analysis has emerged as a key technique in modern sociology, and has also gained a following in anthropology; biology, communication studies, economics, geography, informa- tion science, organizational studies, social psychology, and sociolinguistics, and has become a popular topic of speculation and study. • Anthropology—is the study of humanity. It has origins in the natural sciences, the humanities, and the social sciences. • Biology—is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organ- isms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. • Communication Studies—is an academic field that deals with processes of com- munication, commonly defined as the sharing of symbols over distances in space and time.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Adolescent Social Networks and Sexual Practices Wassie Kebede
    Social Networks and Sexual Practices ____________________________________________________________________________ Adolescent Social Networks and Sexual Practices Wassie Kebede B.A., Addis Ababa University M.A., Addis Ababa University A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In Social Work & Social Development © Wassie Kebede, 2009 Addis Ababa University All Rights Reserved. This dissertation may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopying or other means, without the permission of the author Social Networks and Sexual Practices ii ___________________________________________________________________________ Social Networks and Sexual Practices iii ______________________________________________________________________________ Abstract This study examines adolescent social networks and sexual practices (and how they differ among males and females of different ages) among ninth-grade students in two high schools in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Social exchange theory and group socialization theory guide the study. Other theories that the study utilizes are the theory of homophily, balance theory, the theory of self-interest, and the theory of early sexual practices. Up to now, there has been no systematic research in Ethiopia or the rest of Africa on the relationship between adolescent social networks and sexual practices. Mixed-methods research guides the study, which consists of two parts. Study A generated data from a 264-item survey of 167 respondents, to which parametric and nonparametric statistics (using a consistent alpha of .05) are applied. Study B used 10 critical cases to generate qualitative data. Critical cases are study participants selected based on their capacity to provide reliable data of interest. UCINET 6.0 was used to draw social network diagrams, and qualitative data were transcribed and subjected to content analysis.
    [Show full text]
  • Approximating Network Centrality Measures Using Node Embedding and Machine Learning
    Approximating Network Centrality Measures Using Node Embedding and Machine Learning Matheus R. F. Mendon¸ca,Andr´eM. S. Barreto, and Artur Ziviani ∗† Abstract Extracting information from real-world large networks is a key challenge nowadays. For instance, computing a node centrality may become unfeasible depending on the intended centrality due to its computational cost. One solution is to develop fast methods capable of approximating network centralities. Here, we propose an approach for efficiently approximating node centralities for large networks using Neural Networks and Graph Embedding techniques. Our proposed model, entitled Network Centrality Approximation using Graph Embedding (NCA-GE), uses the adjacency matrix of a graph and a set of features for each node (here, we use only the degree) as input and computes the approximate desired centrality rank for every node. NCA-GE has a time complexity of O(jEj), E being the set of edges of a graph, making it suitable for large networks. NCA-GE also trains pretty fast, requiring only a set of a thousand small synthetic scale-free graphs (ranging from 100 to 1000 nodes each), and it works well for different node centralities, network sizes, and topologies. Finally, we compare our approach to the state-of-the-art method that approximates centrality ranks using the degree and eigenvector centralities as input, where we show that the NCA-GE outperforms the former in a variety of scenarios. 1 Introduction Networks are present in several real-world applications spread among different disciplines, such as biology, mathematics, sociology, and computer science, just to name a few. Therefore, network analysis is a crucial tool for extracting relevant information.
    [Show full text]
  • Social Media Reputation Management
    SOCIAL MEDIA REPUTATION MANAGEMENT If you are using social media sites such as Facebook or Twitter, there are some simple steps you can take to manage your reputation and protect your identity. Even if you are not using these sites, it is important to manage your digital footprint and identify any false or misleading information about you online. In this booklet you will find our top 10 tips for protecting your reputation online. We also provide practical guides for setting up Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and mobile devices to help you ensure your information is safe online. Contents Top 10 tips for protecting your reputation online ... 2 Managing your Facebook account ................ 5 Make sure your profile is set to private 5 Only accept friend requests from people you know and trust and learn to block offensive users 8 Report fake profiles 9 Delete unused accounts 10 Managing your Twitter account .................. 12 Make sure your profile is set to private 12 Only accept friend requests from people you know and trust and learn to block offensive users 12 Report fake profiles 13 Delete unused accounts 15 Managing your LinkedIn account ................ 16 Make sure your profile is set to private 16 Limiting who can view your activity feed and connections 16 Limiting certain people from communicating with you 17 Protecting your account information 17 Delete your account 17 Managing your Instagram account ............... 18 Make sure your profile is set to private 18 Only accept friend requests from people you know and trust and learn to block offensive users 19 Report fake profiles 19 Managing your Snapchat account ...............
    [Show full text]
  • Why Do Academics Use Academic Social Networking Sites?
    International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning Volume 18, Number 1 February – 2017 Why Do Academics Use Academic Social Networking Sites? Hagit Meishar-Tal1 and Efrat Pieterse2 1Holon institute of Technology (HIT), 2Western Galilee College Abstract Academic social-networking sites (ASNS) such as Academia.edu and ResearchGate are becoming very popular among academics. These sites allow uploading academic articles, abstracts, and links to published articles; track demand for published articles, and engage in professional interaction. This study investigates the nature of the use and the perceived utility of the sites for academics. The study employs the Uses and Gratifications theory to analyze the use of ASNS. A questionnaire was sent to all faculty members at three academic institutions. The findings indicate that researchers use ASNS mainly for consumption of information, slightly less for sharing of information, and very scantily for interaction with others. As for the gratifications that motivate users to visit ASNS, four main ones were found: self-promotion and ego-bolstering, acquisition of professional knowledge, belonging to a peer community, and interaction with peers. Keywords: academic social-networking sites, users' motivation, Academia.edu, ResearchGate, uses and gratifications Introduction In the past few years, the Internet has seen the advent of academic social-networking sites (ASNS) such as Academia.edu and ResearchGate. These sites allow users to upload academic articles, abstracts, and links to published articles; track demand for their published articles; and engage in professional interaction, discussions, and exchanges of questions and answers with other users. The sites, used by millions (Van Noorden, 2014), constitute a major addition to scientific media.
    [Show full text]
  • Sexual Network Analysis of a Gonorrhoea Outbreak P De, a E Singh, T Wong, W Yacoub, a M Jolly
    280 Sex Transm Infect: first published as 10.1136/sti.2003.007187 on 4 August 2004. Downloaded from ORIGINAL ARTICLE Sexual network analysis of a gonorrhoea outbreak P De, A E Singh, T Wong, W Yacoub, A M Jolly ............................................................................................................................... Sex Transm Infect 2004;80:280–285. doi: 10.1136/sti.2003.007187 Objectives: Sexual partnerships can be viewed as networks in order to study disease transmission. We examined the transmission of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in a localised outbreak in Alberta, Canada, using measures of network centrality to determine the association between risk of infection of network members and their position within the sexual network. We also compared risk in smaller disconnected components with a large network centred on a social venue. Methods: During the investigation of the outbreak, epidemiological data were collected on gonorrhoea cases and their sexual contacts from STI surveillance records. In addition to traditional contact tracing information, subjects were interviewed about social venues they attended in the past year where casual sexual partnering may have occurred. Sexual networks were constructed by linking together named See end of article for authors’ affiliations partners. Univariate comparisons of individual network member characteristics and algebraic measures of ....................... network centrality were completed. Results: The sexual networks consisted of 182 individuals, of whom 107 were index cases with laboratory Correspondence to: Prithwish De, Department confirmed gonorrhoea and 75 partners of index cases. People who had significantly higher information of Epidemiology and centrality within each of their local networks were found to have patronised a popular motel bar in the Biostatistics, McGill main town in the region (p = 0.05).
    [Show full text]
  • Social Theory and Social Computing Workshop– Honolulu, Hawaii – May 22 - 23, 2010
    Social Theory and Social Computing Workshop– Honolulu, Hawaii – May 22 - 23, 2010 Presentation abstracts and bio sketches Day One CHOICE-THEORETIC MODELS Dennis Chong, Northwestern University, Department of Political Science Dynamic Public Preferences I will discuss how the sensitivity of political evaluations to framing affects our understanding of individual preferences. In particular, the effects of framing appear to undermine the assumption that preferences are consistent. Some researchers have suggested that democratic competition can strengthen preferences and reduce framing effects. I will present some experimental tests of how competition over time between alternative frames affects public opinion depending on how individuals process information. Dennis Chong is the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Professor of Political Science at Northwestern University. He studies American national politics and has published extensively on issues of decision-making, political psychology, social norms, rationality, tolerance, and collective action. Professor Chong is the author of Rational Lives: Norms and Values in Politics and Society, a study of value formation and change, group identification, and conflict over social norms and values. He also wrote Collective Action and the Civil Rights Movement, a theoretical study of the dynamics of collective action as well as a substantial study of the American civil rights movement and the local and national politics that surrounded it. This book won the William H. Riker Prize given by the Political Economy Section of the American Political Science Association. Professor Chong's current research on the influence of information and framing in competitive electoral contexts has received several awards, including the APSA's Franklin L. Burdette/Pi Sigma Alpha Prize.
    [Show full text]
  • The Example of Swedish Independent Music Fandom by Nancy K
    First Monday Online groups are taking new forms as participants spread themselves amongst multiple Internet and offline platforms. The multinational online community of Swedish independent music fans exemplifies this trend. This participant–observation analysis of this fandom shows how sites are interlinked at multiple levels, and identifies several implications for theorists, researchers, developers, industry and independent professionals, and participants. Contents Introduction Fandom Swedish popular music The Swedish indie music fan community Discussion Conclusion Introduction The rise of social network sites is often taken to exemplify a shift from the interest–based online communities of the Web’s “first” incarnation to a new “Web 2.0” in which individuals are the basic unit, rather than communities. In a recent First Monday article, for instance, boyd (2006) states, “egocentric networks replace groups.” I argue that online groups have not been “replaced.” Even as their members build personal profiles and egocentric networks on MySpace, Facebook, BlackPlanet, Orkut, Bebo, and countless other emerging social network sites, online groups continue to thrive on Web boards, in multiplayer online games, and even on the all–but–forgotten Usenet. However, online communities are also taking a new form somewhere between the site-based online group and the egocentric network, distributing themselves throughout a variety of sites in a quasi–coherent networked fashion. This new form of distributed community poses particular problems for its members, developers, and analysts. This paper, based on over two years of participant–observation, describes this new shape of online community through a close look at the multinational online community of fans of independent rock music from Sweden.
    [Show full text]
  • Twitter – a Personal Perspective
    Twitter – a personal perspective Catriona Fisher Customer Services Manager University of Glasgow Library Email: catriona.fisher@glasgow. ac.uk twitter: @catrionafisher I joined Twitter in March 2009, but like most people I spent the first few months wondering what on earth this strange new world was all about. As a devoted user of Multiply, then Bebo and later Facebook, I was no stranger to social net- working, but Twitter was quite obviously some- thing different. I quickly realised the following: • you need your tweets to be public • the best way to get followers is to follow other people • hashtags are a must if you want your voice to be heard amongst the millions of tweets. I started out tweeting solely about work and had intended to have two accounts, one for work and a personal account (as I do with Facebook), but I quickly realised that many professionals on Twit- ter were tweeting about their work lives and their personal lives from the same account. This takes a bit of getting used to, but is very much the norm on Twitter. I now tweet from my own account @catrionafisher and also on behalf of the University of Glasgow Library @uofglibrary, along with a group of staff from Library Services. We’ve found Twitter to be a really powerful way of reaching out to students and other library users and it is now one of our primary channels of communication when we need to share informa- tion quickly. For example, we are using it to keep students up to date with any disruption during the work to re-clad the library building.
    [Show full text]
  • Religion Networks and Hiv/Aids in Rural Malawi
    RELIGION NETWORKS AND HIV/AIDS IN RURAL MALAWI DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for The Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of Ohio State University By jimi adams * * * * * Ohio State University 2007 Dissertation Committee: Approved by Professor Kazimierz M. Slomczynski, Advisor Professor James W. Moody, Outside Member _______________________ Professor Korie Edwards Advisor Sociology Graduate Program Professor Steven H. Lopez Copyright by jimi adams 2007 ABSTRACT Sub-Saharan Africa’s residents represent approximately two-thirds of the nearly 40 million global HIV/AIDS cases, while comprising only about one-tenth of the world’s population. In the rural settings where most inhabitants of SSA live, religious organizations are the only formal organizations present, and virtually all residents of SSA participate in a religious organization. Many have theorized a relationship between religion and HIV/AIDS, suggesting alternately its helpful and harmful potential in this crisis. The existing research conceptualizes religion, HIV risk and the connection between them by studying individuals, organizations, or aggregations of individuals and organizations. In this dissertation, I demonstrate the adjustments a network perspective contributes to researchers’ ability to understand religious organizational responses to this epidemic, the nature of HIV-risk and, perhaps most importantly, how these are linked. The resulting conceptualization suggests some of the first mechanisms that demonstrate how
    [Show full text]
  • The Effect of Social Media Use on Physical Isolation in Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder
    Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2021 The Effect of Social Media use on Physical Isolation in Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder Davena Limitless Longshore Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Clinical Psychology Commons, Computer Sciences Commons, and the Quantitative, Qualitative, Comparative, and Historical Methodologies Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Davena L. Longshore has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Georita Frierson, Committee Chairperson, Psychology Faculty Dr. Alethea Baker, Committee Member, Psychology Faculty Dr. Michael Johnson, University Reviewer, Psychology Faculty Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D. Walden University 2021 Abstract The Effect of Social Media use on Physical Isolation in Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder. by Davena L. Longshore MS, Walden University, 2017 MIS, University of Phoenix, 2008 BA, Florida Atlantic University, 2004 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Clinical Psychology Walden University August 2021 Abstract Individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) experience extreme interpersonal conflict, crippling their ability to sustain successful relationships.
    [Show full text]
  • Systematic Scoping Review on Social Media Monitoring Methods and Interventions Relating to Vaccine Hesitancy
    TECHNICAL REPORT Systematic scoping review on social media monitoring methods and interventions relating to vaccine hesitancy www.ecdc.europa.eu ECDC TECHNICAL REPORT Systematic scoping review on social media monitoring methods and interventions relating to vaccine hesitancy This report was commissioned by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and coordinated by Kate Olsson with the support of Judit Takács. The scoping review was performed by researchers from the Vaccine Confidence Project, at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (contract number ECD8894). Authors: Emilie Karafillakis, Clarissa Simas, Sam Martin, Sara Dada, Heidi Larson. Acknowledgements ECDC would like to acknowledge contributions to the project from the expert reviewers: Dan Arthus, University College London; Maged N Kamel Boulos, University of the Highlands and Islands, Sandra Alexiu, GP Association Bucharest and Franklin Apfel and Sabrina Cecconi, World Health Communication Associates. ECDC would also like to acknowledge ECDC colleagues who reviewed and contributed to the document: John Kinsman, Andrea Würz and Marybelle Stryk. Suggested citation: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Systematic scoping review on social media monitoring methods and interventions relating to vaccine hesitancy. Stockholm: ECDC; 2020. Stockholm, February 2020 ISBN 978-92-9498-452-4 doi: 10.2900/260624 Catalogue number TQ-04-20-076-EN-N © European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, 2020 Reproduction is authorised, provided the
    [Show full text]
  • Arxiv:1403.5206V2 [Cs.SI] 30 Jul 2014
    What is Tumblr: A Statistical Overview and Comparison Yi Chang‡, Lei Tang§, Yoshiyuki Inagaki† and Yan Liu‡ † Yahoo Labs, Sunnyvale, CA 94089, USA § @WalmartLabs, San Bruno, CA 94066, USA ‡ University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089 [email protected],[email protected], [email protected],[email protected] Abstract Traditional blogging sites, such as Blogspot6 and Living- Social7, have high quality content but little social interac- Tumblr, as one of the most popular microblogging platforms, tions. Nardi et al. (Nardi et al. 2004) investigated blogging has gained momentum recently. It is reported to have 166.4 as a form of personal communication and expression, and millions of users and 73.4 billions of posts by January 2014. showed that the vast majority of blog posts are written by While many articles about Tumblr have been published in ordinarypeople with a small audience. On the contrary, pop- major press, there is not much scholar work so far. In this pa- 8 per, we provide some pioneer analysis on Tumblr from a va- ular social networking sites like Facebook , have richer so- riety of aspects. We study the social network structure among cial interactions, but lower quality content comparing with Tumblr users, analyze its user generated content, and describe blogosphere. Since most social interactions are either un- reblogging patterns to analyze its user behavior. We aim to published or less meaningful for the majority of public audi- provide a comprehensive statistical overview of Tumblr and ence, it is natural for Facebook users to form different com- compare it with other popular social services, including blo- munities or social circles.
    [Show full text]