Sunbelt XXVII Workshops

1. Introduction to the Analysis of Network Data via UCINET and NetDraw

Stephen Borgatti

Boston College, Massachusetts USA.

e-mail: borgatts@bc.edu

Martin Everett

University of Westminster, United Kingdom.

e-mail: M.Everett01@westminster.ac.uk

starts 1:00 May 1st, ends noon May 2nd

Tuesday, May 1, 1:00pm - 5:00pm and

Wednesday, May 2, 9:00am - noon

Cost: Students $50, all others $100

A beginners tutorial on the concepts, methods and data analysis techniques of social network analysis. The course begins with a general introduction to the distinct goals and perspectives of network analysis, followed by a practical discussion of network data, covering issues of collection, validity, visualization, and mathematical/computer representation. We then take up the methods of detection and description of structural properties such as centrality, cohesion, subgroups, cores, roles, etc. Finally, we consider how to frame and test network hypotheses. An important element of this workshop is that all participants are given a demonstration version of UCINET 6 for Windows and the Netmap visualization software, which we use to provide hands-on experience analyzing real data using the techniques covered in the workshop. In order to participate fully in the workshop, participants should bring laptop computers so that they can run the analyses on their machines at the same time as they are being demonstrated by the instructors.

2. Pajek workshop: Analysis of Large Networks

Vladimir Batagelj

University of Ljubljana.

e-mail: vladimir.batagelj@fmf.uni-lj.si

Andrej Mrvar

University of Ljubljana.

e-mail: andrej.mrvar@fdv.uni-lj.si

2a - First part: Tuesday, May 1, 1:00pm - 5:00pm and

2b - Second part: Wednesday, May 2, 9:00am - noon

Cost of each part: Students $25, all others $50

Pajek is a program for Windows for analysis and visualization of large networks. It is free for noncommercial applications and can be downloaded from its home page.

To actively follow the workshop participants are expected to bring their laptops.

The workshop consists of two parts.

2a - First part: (Tuesday afternoon) Introduction to Pajek. In the first part we will give an introduction to the use of Pajek based on our textbook on social network analysis 'Exploratory Social Network Analysis with Pajek'. Jurgen Pfeffer, from FAS.research, Vienna will present his program Text2Pajek that converts excel/text file datasets into Pajek format.

2b - Second part: (Wednesday morning) Advanced uses of Pajek. In the second part we will present some efficient approaches (valued cores, triangular and short cycle connectivity, citation weights, pattern search, generalized blockmodeling, islands) to analysis and visualization of real-life large networks. We will also demonstrate some newest additions to Pajek: network multiplication and kinship relations, (p,q)-cores and 4-rings weights in analysis of two-mode networks, matrix display of dense networks, linking network visualizations to Internet.

3. SocioMetrica Suite: EgoNet and VisuaLyzer

Allen Tien
Medical Decision Logic, Inc.
e-mail: allen@mdlogix.com
Chris McCarty
University of Florida.
e-mail: ufchris@ufl.edu

This workshop will focus on our SocioMetrica Suite: EgoNet (personal network data collection), and VisuaLyzer (visualization and logical reasoning about graphs) software applications. Attendees will get a free copy of the software applications.

3 - Tuesday, May 1, 1:00pm - 5:00pm (Students $30, all others $50)

4. Concepts and Practice of Exponential random graph (ERG or p*) modeling:

a. The conceptual basis and methodology of ERG models with a description of recent developments;

b. A Practical introduction to statnet: an R-based environment for statistical analysis and simulation of social networks

This workshop describes exponential random graph models for social networks, and outlines important new developments in model specification and in software for fitting these models to empirical data. The workshop comprises two sessions, but participants are free to attend one or both sessions (although those unfamiliar with this class of models are advised to attend the methodology tutorial before the statnet introduction).

4a - Session 1 (Tuesday afternoon): The conceptual basis and methodology of ERG models with a description of recent developments
Martina Morris, Pip Pattison, Garry Robins and Mark S. Handcock
(University of Washington and University of Melbourne, Australia)

We present a tutorial introduction to exponential random graph models, and their conceptual motivations. This includes the problematic class of Markov random graphs, and recent specifications and developments that make ERG models a much more practical and useful tool for the statistical analysis of social networks. In particular, we introduce the recent model specifications (geometrically weighted degree distributions; alternating k-triangles; and alternating independent two-paths) and curved exponential models. We explain why they are a dramatic improvement for the modeling of many observed data sets. We briefly describe Monte Carlo maximum likelihood techniques for fitting these models, illustrate how to fit social network ties and individual attributes simultaneously, and discuss goodness of fit and simulation. Parameter interpretation is discussed. We briefly introduce publicly available software packages, statnet, StOCNET and pnet, that can estimate parameters.

4b - Session 2 (Wednesday morning): A Practical introduction to statnet: an R-based environment for statistical analysis and simulation of social networks
Mark S. Handcock (University of Washington), Dave Hunter (Penn State University), Carter Butts (UCI), Steve Goodreau (University of Washington).

This workshop will provide a hands-on tutorial to statnet, a statistical package for the visualization, analysis and simulation of social network data. The modeling capabilities of statnet include the class of exponential random graph (ERG) models. These models recognize the complex dependencies within relational data structures, and provide a very flexible framework for representing them. Examples include degree distributions and stars, attribute-based mixing patterns, triadic patterns that lead to clustering, shared partner distributions, the new specifications in Snijders et. Al. 2006, and other systematic network configurations. statnet has a coherent and flexible user interface and can handle relatively large networks (~3,000 is the largest network we have estimated models for), and it has very efficient algorithms for data manipulation and analysis. The package provides tools for both model estimation and model-based network simulation, with visualization, tools for inference and validation, and goodness of fit diagnostics. The package is written for the R statistical computing environment, so it runs on any computing platform that supports R (Windows, Unix/Linux, Mac), it is freely available through the Comprehensive R Archive Network (CRAN), and it has a seamless interface to SNA (an R package for traditional network analysis written by Carter Butts). This workshop is designed to follow on the workshop "The conceptual basis and methodology of ERG models with a description of recent developments", but it can also be taken independently.

5. Networks for Newbies

Alexandra Marin

University of Toronto, Canada

e-mail: alexandra.marin@gmail.com

Wednesday, May 2nd 8:30am - noon

Cost: Students $35, all others $50

This is a non-technical introduction to social network analysis. It describes the development for social network analysis, some key concepts, and some key substantive methods and findings. It is aimed at newcomers to the field, and those who have only seen social network analysis as a method.

6. The Analysis of Longitudinal Social Network Data using SIENA

Tom Snijders

University of Oxford and University of Groningen

e-mail: T.A.B.Snijders@rug.nl

Christian Steglich

ICS, University of Groningen

email: c.e.g.steglich@rug.nl

starts 1:00 May 1st, ends noon May 2nd

Tuesday, May 1, 1:00pm - 5:00pm and

Wednesday, May 2, 9:00am - noon

Cost: Students $35, all others $50

This workshop is about statistical inference for longitudinal observations on social networks. Longitudinal social network data are understood here as two or more repeated observations of a directed graph on a given node set (usually between 30 and a few hundred nodes). The workshop teaches the statistical method to analyze such data, as described in Snijders (2005) and Snijders, Steglich & Schweinberger (2006), and implemented in the SIENA program. The statistical model used for the network evolution allows to include various network effects (reciprocity, transitivity, cycles, popularity, etc.), effects of individual covariates (covariates connected to the sender, the receiver, or the similarity between sender and receiver), and of dyadic covariates. One interpretation of this model is an actor-oriented model where the nodes are actors whose choices determine the network evolution. An important extension is to have, in addition to the network, one or more actor variables that evolve in mutual dependence with the network; an example is a friendship network of adolescents where drinking behavior is a relevant actor variable which influences, and is influenced by, the friendship network. This leads to models for the simultaneous dynamics of networks and behavior, which are a special option in SIENA.

Further information about this method, including references and a JAVAdemo, can be found at the SIENA website (see below). The statistical analysis is based on Monte Carlo simulations of the network evolution model and therefore is a bit time-consuming. The computer program SIENA is included in the StOCNET package which runs under Windows. The workshop will demonstrate the basics of using StOCNET and SIENA. Attention will be paid to the underlying statistical methodology, to examples, and to the use of the software. The morning session will focus on the intuitive understanding of the model and operation of the software. The afternoon will continue this, and also present some further mathematical background. Participants are requested to check the SIENA website in the week before the workshop to download the workshop materials. For optimal benefit, it is advisable to bring an own laptop with StOCNET already installed, such that some steps of data manipulation can be followed hands-on.

SIENA website: http://stat.gamma.rug.nl/siena.html 

7. Social Network Approaches for Behavior Change

This workshop has been cancelled.

Tom Valente

Director, Master of Public Health Program

Department of Preventive Medicine

School of Medicine

University of Southern California

e-mail: tvalente@usc.edu

Wednesday, May 2nd 8:30am - noon

Cost: Students $25, all others $35

This workshop will be conducted in 2 sections. Section 1 will review existing evidence for the utility of using social network data for behavior change in a variety of settings including health behaviors and organizational performance. We present a typology of such efforts. Section 2 will demonstrate existing software programs for implementing social network interventions. The workshop will be conducted by Tom Valente who has been developing and implementing network based interventions for over 10 years.

8. Methodology of social networks within social research (Session in Spanish)

Wednesday, May 2nd, 9:00pm to noon

Cost: free.

This workshop, which be held in Spanish, examines the use of social network analysis in social research. In the first part we will lay out and discuss several research cases in which social network analysis has been included. Examples of studies on personal networks, visualization of personal networks and the dynamic analysis of social networks will be shown. In the second part participants will present their ongoing research and will receive comments from the coordinators of the workshop. This session is particularly appropriate for Spanish speaking researchers who are discovering social network analysis and for PhD students using a social network approach.

Las metodologías de las redes sociales en la investigación social

El taller desarrolla los usos de las redes sociales en la investigación social. En la primera parte se presentan varios casos de investigación, donde se discute y presenta la incorporación de una perspectiva de redes. Se muestran ejemplos del estudio de redes personales, la visualización de redes personales y el análisis dinámico de redes sociales. En la segunda parte los participantes presentan sus investigaciones en marcha (research in progress), que son comentadas por los coordinadores del taller. La sesión está especialmente indicada para investigadores que se inician en el análisis de redes sociales y para investigadores que están desarrollando su tesis doctoral con un enfoque de redes sociales.

--- updated March 15, 2007 ---

sunbelt.corfu.2007@gmail.com