David Passmore

1. Social Network Analysis:
An Overview
David Passmore
Workforce Education & Development

2.  The typical research study examines relationships
among variables (focus on variables)
◦ Data most frequently are organized in a cases-by-variable
matrix for analysis
◦ Usually samples from populations, requiring inferential
processes to estimate population values
 A social network analysis (SNA) studies relationships
among entities (focus is on relationships)
◦ Data typically organized in an entity-by-entity matrix
◦ Inferential processes are developed, but rarely used
Social network analysis focuses on relationships, not attributes

3.  A network is composed of a series of nodes
interconnected by communication paths
 Examples:
◦ Physical, as in a storm water management system that
connects street drains to corrugated pipes that, eventually,
aggregate storm water to treatment plants.
◦ Virtual, as in a network of linked computers
◦ Biological, as in a nervous system composed of synapses
that pass chemical or electrical signals among neurons
◦ Networks also can be social
They are all around us

4.  A social network is composed of nodes represented
by individuals or organizations that are linked by
such social factors as friendship, kinship, common
interest, or financial exchange.
 As with any network, the structure of links among
nodes in a social network can be represented by a
network diagram.

8. Often called a “digraph”

9.  What social relationships are important in workforce
education & development?
 How could information about social networks be
used for improvement of organization?

10. These, and others, are used in SNA

11. Number of actual links ÷ number of possible non-redundant links

12. Average of number of links between all possible pairs of nodes

13. Number of isolates ÷ number of nodes in the network

14. A subset of nodes that are all interconnected

15. A node that connects two otherwise unconnected nodes

16. Social Network Analysis:
An Overview
David Passmore
Workforce Education & Development