Social Network Theory

network [informal]

a set of relationships

6 degree of seperation

each of us is connected to someone else

An experiment was conducted “two people A-Z” who may not know each other directly but may both have acquaintances. How many people acquaintances are needed to link them

6 on average is needed

Social Networks

true core of human society since hunters and gathers

Sociometry

involves the application of experiemental techiques empircal methods to analyze the dynamic between groups and individuals.

Example of degrees of seperation

obesity is a phenomenon, but once that spreads in way like tuberculosis

Society exists where a # of individuals enter into what

interaction

What role do weak ties play in socila networks

diffusion of info and growth of netowrks

Actor/Nodes

ties that connect nodes together they form a network

Nodes are

individual persons, schools, industries, states, or other structures that could form a tie or relationship

Ties are

friendships, trade agreements, communication, and contacts between 2 structures

Nodes placed in critcial / higher positions recieve what ?

More flow having a higher control or influence un ther network

Dyads (pairs)

formed by actors/nodes where two individuals nodes connect together that may have weak or strong ties.

Info is passed through pairs in forms of

knowledge, belief, attitude, and social support

Dyadic relationships

important in sexual network and injection drug-use

Example of dyadic relationships

disease spread due to sex or needles

Nodes may also form what

Triads

What is a traid

form the foundation of social network theory of social network theory and analysis

Two related concepts of traids are

balance and transitivity

Balance

if dyad shares agreement with a third actor or if one person in the dyad likes the third actor

• two nodes have unfavrable views or attuitudes toward a third person

Transitivity

second critical concept: ties between A and B & B and C, A will mostly likley form a bond with C

Centrality

Popularity or # of connections a node has within a social network

Homophily

birds of a fetaher fly together /love of the same

occurs aomng those with similar backgrounds studies gender / racial groups, and beliefs

Examples of Homphily

adult who smoked likely to have close contact to others who smoke within their social network

it is greater in networks where behaviors occur [siblings, tv, drinking, friends]

Where does homphiliy exists in

strcutural intercations

What is level 1 of homphily in structural intercations

dyad level: characteristics of node

What is level 2 of homphily in structural intercations

nodes level: # of connections and positions

What is level 3 of homphily in structural intercations

group level: network level of density of wages cenmutaility tralization

mutality - dyadic relationship

relationship between 2 entites that is reciprocal and involved give and take between 2 entities both recieve resources and emotional support flow

3 important assests of network models

1. communication

2. information

3. relations

Communication

key driver of how info, knowledge and ideas spread through network

Informationn

Spead and utilize info principles

• info needs

• info exsposure

• info legitimate

• info routes

• into opportunities

Relations

Indicate connection between 2 or more ppl, things, or interactions between network actors

brokerage

lack of connection with a network (also connection w disorganized others)

Measured by betweenness (actors sit between others in network)

brokerage

Brokage allows other to serve as what

intermediates between other networks or two diff networks knows as bridging

Bridging

connection of networks within a social system

Social Systems are both

• traditional

• virtual

Network Organizations

Meso level

Macro level

Meso Level

constitute organization or involve ranodmly distributed networks

Macro Level

networks can include large scale networks and complex networks

Induction

occurs when 1 member of a network has a direct or indirect influence on attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors of another person in the network

Suprdiffuser

describes key moment of homophilic network members of a homphilic network.

defined as high influental person who posses 3 distinct traits Connectivit

Connectivity

ability to reach ppl from bridges across groups

Persuasiveness

skills and motivation ton covince others

Mavenism

a person viewed as an expert relative to a specfic content area of knowledge and skill