| Uitgebreide vaknaam |
Social networks |
| Leerdoelen |
Students participating in this course acquire knowledge of the main theories, methods, and applications of social network research, as well as basic skills to collect, analyse and visualise network data. After the course, they should be able to design and conduct a small-scale network study on their own. |
| Omschrijving |
Social networks are formal representations of the way how social actors relate to each other, and depend on each other. As examples, think of informal talk and gossip among the employees of a firm, and the way how gossip can undermine the standing of a colleague. Or think of knowledge flow between the firms that work in the same industry, and the dependence of business success of the firm on its knowledge base. Or think of friendship among the adolescents that go to the same school, and issues of social exclusion or minority integration.
In terms of sociological theory and modelling, social networks offer a good framework for understanding how a system of interdependent social actors functions, i.e., how actors create networks and how networks affect actors' individual outcomes. In the course, students make acquaintance with the main network theories and theorists, from George Homans' individualist foundations ('The Human Group', 1950) via Harrison White's structuralism ('Identity and Control', 1992) to current research on Social Mechanisms. In a variety of research domains and problem areas, they learn to apply network thinking and network concepts, including social cohesion and integration, social capital, social position and hierarchies, and social diffusion processes.
In applications, students encounter network data from a diversity of domains (such as friendship at school, communication within an organisation, or cooperation between organisations). In group assignments, they collect network data of different types on their own. In the accompanying computer labs, they learn how to enter, process, and visualise network data. |
| Uren per week |
6 |
| Onderwijsvorm |
computerpracticum, hoorcollege
|
| Toetsvorm |
computeropdrachten, deeltoets(en), opdrachten, tentamen
(Three larger group assignments, several computer-based partial tests, and a final exam.)
|
| Vaksoort |
bachelor
|
| Coördinator |
dr. C.E.G. Steglich
|
| Docent(en) |
dr. C.E.G. Steglich
|
| Verplichte literatuur |
| Titel |
Auteur |
ISBN |
Prijs |
| Additional readings on Nestor. |
|
|
|
| Analyzing Social Networks. |
Stephen P. Borgatti, Martin G. Everett, and Jeffrey C. Johnson |
9781446247419 |
ca.
€
35,00
|
| Understanding Social Networks. Theories, Concepts, and Findings. |
Charles Kadushin |
9780195379471 |
ca.
€
21,00
|
|
| Entreevoorwaarden |
|
| Opmerkingen |
This course is open to participation of Erasmus students. While teaching is done in English, the assignments and exams can be answered in Dutch as well. |
| Opgenomen in |
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