Social Network Analysis
Course content
Social Network Analysis (SNA) has gained popularity in many different fields, ranging from political science to economy. Today, the approach is also an important part of social data science. SNA explores the relations between entities (politicians, firms, countries, etc.), while entailing both different methods and underlying social theories. This seminar will introduce core concepts and topics in SNA, including network structure, centrality and communities. The students will learn how to develop relevant research questions, collect data and to analyze networks using the programming language “R”. Furthermore, the seminar offers hands-on experience with analysis of networks in International Relations, while also being relevant to those who wish to use SNA for other purposes.
Full-degree students enrolled at the Department of Political Science, UCPH
- MSc in Political Science
- MSc in Social Science
- MSc in Security Risk Management
- Bachelor in Political Science
Full-degree students enrolled at the Faculty of Social Science, UCPH
- Master Programme in Social Data Science
- Bachelor and Master Programmes in Sociology
- Bachelor and Master Programmes in Psychology
The course is open to:
- Exchange and Guest students from abroad
- Credit students from Danish Universities
- Open University students
Knowledge:
- Describe relevant concepts and theories
- Understand how theoretical concepts in social network theory can be applied in empirical research
- Reflect upon the limitations of relevant theoretical concepts and methods
Skills:
- Critically discuss empirical work
- Analyze networks in R
- Visualize networks using Gephi and/or other software
Competences:
- Develop research questions
- Independently plan and conduct research relate to social networks
The class consists of lectures and practical sessions, where the
course participants will solve tasks in R. The students will
prepare for class by reading the assigned material prior to the
sessions. In some instances, course participants will be advised to
run code in R prior to the lectures.
The course strongly depends on active student participation in
class. The students will use groups to solve practical tasks and to
shape their own research project for the written
assignment.
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Burt, R.S., 2004. Structural holes and good ideas. American journal of sociology, 110(2), pp.349-399. Diani, M. and McAdam, D. eds., 2003. Social movements and networks: Relational approaches to collective action. Oxford University Press. Emirbayer, M., 1997. Manifesto for a relational sociology. American journal of sociology, 103(2), pp.281-317. Freeman, L.C., 1978. Centrality in social networks conceptual clarification. Social networks, 1(3), pp.215-239. Granovetter, M.S., 1973. The strength of weak ties. American journal of sociology, 78(6), pp.1360-1380. Lazer, D., Pentland, A.S., Adamic, L., Aral, S., Barabasi, A.L., Brewer, D., Christakis, N., Contractor, N., Fowler, J., Gutmann, M. and Jebara, T., 2009. Life in the network: the coming age of computational social science. Science (New York, NY), 323(5915), p.721 Lin, N., 1999. Building a network theory of social capital. Connections, 22(1), pp.28-51 Scott, J., 2017. Social network analysis. Sage.
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It is strongly recommended that the students have at least minimal experience with either R or Python prior to the course. Those with no prior experience in R are advised to take a short online tutorial prior to the first lecture.
Continuing and Professional Education – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)
When registered you will be signed up for exam.
- Full-degree students – sign up at Selfservice on KUnet
- Exchange and guest students from abroad – sign up through Mobility Online and Selfservice
- Credit students from Danish universities - sign up through this website.
- Open University students - sign up through this website.
The dates for the exams are found here Exams – Faculty of Social Sciences - University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)
Please note that it is your own responsibility to check for overlapping exam dates.
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Written assignment
- Type of assessment details
- Free written assignment
Students are permitted to use AI/LLM tools to help them write code in R. The R code must be included in the appendix of the assignment. Any other use of AI/LLM tools in the assignment is not permitted. - Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
- Re-exam
-
- In the semester where the course takes place: Free written assignment
- In subsequent semesters: Free written assignment
Criteria for exam assessment
- Grade 12 is given for an outstanding performance: the student lives up to the course's goal description in an independent and convincing manner with no or few and minor shortcomings
- Grade 7 is given for a good performance: the student is confidently able to live up to the goal description, albeit with several shortcomings
- Grade 02 is given for an adequate performance: the minimum acceptable performance in which the student is only able to live up to the goal description in an insecure and incomplete manner
Single subject courses (day)
- Category
- Hours
- Class Instruction
- 28
- English
- 28
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- ASTK18186U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
Bachelor
- Duration
-
1 semester
- Placement
- Autumn
- Capacity
- http://polsci.ku.dk/uddannelser/eftervidereuddannelse/aabent_universitet/
- Studyboard
- Department of Political Science, Study Council
Contracting department
- Department of Political Science
- Department of Psychology
- Social Data Science
- Department of Sociology
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Social Sciences
Course Coordinator
- Yevgeniy Golovchenko (2-7d6b446d6a77326f7932686f)
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