Analyzing online social networks / Tod S. Van Gunten.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Van Gunten, Tod S., author.

Series:

SAGE research methods: doing research online

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Social networks--Research.

Social networks.

Physical Description:

1 online resource.

Place of Publication:

London : SAGE Publications, Ltd., 2022.

Summary:

Social network analysis (SNA) is a broad family of methods and theories for studying relations between social entities, such as individuals. The rapid growth of online communication, new forms of social interaction on social media and other platforms, and information dissemination on the internet make SNA methods and theories a natural approach to online research. This How-to Guide provides a brief overview of the fundamentals of social networks, common research questions in the field, and a discussion of data sources and the challenges of data collection. SNA methods involve a variety of tools, from relatively simple data visualization to sophisticated statistical models. Research questions often focus on (1) the positions occupied by particular nodes; (2) the relations between all pairs of nodes; (3) groups or "communities" within the network; and (4) the structure of networks as a whole. While the internet makes many new data sources available, collecting these data in a manner accessible for SNA methods remains challenging, particularly at large scales. The feasibility of systematic network analysis using social media data varies widely across popular platforms; some social media platforms enable large-scale data access, while research on others is extremely difficult due to data access limitations.

Notes:

Description based on: online resource; title from PDF information screen (Sage, viewed March 31, 2023).

ISBN:

1-5296-0958-5

9781529609585

OCLC:

1335037660