Special Topics Research Seminar (525-0-20)
Topic
Social Network Analysis
Instructors
Noshir Contractor
Meeting Info
Frances Searle Building 2107: Fri 2:00PM - 5:00PM
Overview of class
Networks play an increasingly important role in our understanding of human behavior. In communication and the organizational sciences, extraordinary developments in computing and telecommunications have engendered new organizational forms based on fluid, dynamic networks. These new network forms of self-organization are constantly evolving in dynamic communities as new network links are created and dysfunctional ones dissolved. While many writers assert that the capability to nurture networks will differentiate dominant 21st century organizations, little is known about how this important organizational form emerges and evolves.
This seminar is intended to review theoretical, conceptual, and analytic issues associated with network perspectives on communicating and organizing. The course will review scholarship on the science of networks in communication, computer science, economics, engineering, organizational science, life sciences, physical sciences, political science, psychology, and sociology in order to take an in-depth look at theories, methods, and tools to examine the structure and dynamics of networks.
Most class time will be spent discussing the assigned readings. Laboratory exercises will provide experience with network analysis, modeling and visualization tools. A term paper is expected advancing some theoretical, methodological, or computational aspect of network science.
Prerequisites
The course has no formal pre-requisites but will be most beneficial to students who have had an introductory statistics course covering descriptive statistics for central tendencies and dispersion, correlation, sampling, and significance testing.
Software tools
The course will utilize R packages for all laboratory assignments. However, some of the following software tools will be introduced throughout the course"
Class Attributes
Graduate Students Only