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Doing Social Network Research
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Doing Social Network Research
Network-based Research Design for Social Scientists



January 2015 | 280 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd

Are you struggling to design your social network research? Are you looking for a book that covers more than social network analysis?

 

If so, this is the book for you! With straight-forward guidance on research design and data collection, as well as social network analysis, this book takes you start to finish through the whole process of doing network research. Open the book and you'll find practical, 'how to' advice and worked examples relevant to PhD students and researchers from across the social and behavioural sciences.

 

The book covers:

  • Fundamental network concepts and theories
  • Research questions and study design
  • Social systems and data structures
  • Network observation and measurement
  • Methods for data collection
  • Ethical issues for social network research
  • Network visualization
  • Methods for social network analysis
  • Drawing conclusions from social network results

This is a perfect guide for all students and researchers looking to do empirical social network research.

 
The difference with social networks research
 
Fundamental network concepts and ideas
 
Thinking about networks: Research questions and study design
 
Social systems and data structures: relational ties and actor attributes
 
Network observation and measurement
 
The empirical context of network data collection
 
Ethical issues for social networks research
 
Network visualization: What it can and cannot do
 
A review of social network analytic methods
 
Drawing conclusions: Inference, generalization, causality and other weighty matters

Wonderful book. Simple and to the point treatment of all the relevant topics in network research.

Professor Israr Qureshi
Business Administration , IE Business School
January 18, 2016

This is a most valuable, practical source on how to conceptualise network research

Professor Susan Coetzee
Educational Leadership and Management, University of South Africa
June 13, 2015

This is an excellent, and much needed book, which extends beyond describing how social network analysis works in theory to explain the pitfalls and complications of using it in practice. This is an important resource for introducing students to the issues they need to consider when undertaking network studies.

Dr Dave Griffiths
School of Applied Social Science, Stirling University
August 7, 2015

Robins addresses reasonably experienced social scientists. For a course on the postgraduate level, it is very good. As an introductory level textbook, it is less useful. I recommend it (and address some chapters) in my masters' level courses.

Dr Christian E.G. Steglich
Department of Sociology, Groningen University (RuG)
October 12, 2015

Good book for social network research

Dr Anshuman Sharma
International Business Administration, College of Applied Sciences, Ministry of Higher Education
April 6, 2015

Very useful. Is has applications in several courses.

Professor Raquel Ribeiro
CAPP, Instituto Superior de Ciências Sociais e Políticas
April 2, 2015

A helpful guide to develop research skills and ideas

Mrs Fiona Page
Occupational Therapy, Derby University
March 31, 2015

This is a clear and comprehensive introduction to social network analysis which is essential reading for all students and researchers new to the field. The author draws on his extensive experience to introduce and illustrate major concepts and methods, always presented in an accessible and straightforward manner. It is a valuable addition to the field.

Dr Alex Frame
UFR Langues & communication, University of Bourgogne
March 26, 2015

Provides a great deal of background information of each measure including strengths and issues that it presents. It also includes a lot of background research and contexts where it has been used previously.

Dr Jess Kropczynski
College of Information Sciences and Technology, Pennsylvania State University
March 16, 2015

I found this a very useful text in this subject area, some thought provoking information that challenged my thinking and teaching!

Ms Sarah-Jane Ryan
School of Health Professions, Brighton University
March 10, 2015

For instructors

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ISBN: 9781446276136
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