Personal Network Analysis

Abstract

Students complete a name-generator based network survey, calculate common measures of network properties and write a short paper analyzing their own personal networks/ego-networks. This assignment is used in the course Introduction to Social Network Analysis. Students have read about ego networks, ways of measuring their properties, and the factors that...

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Details

Subject Area(s):

Social Networks

Resource Type(s):

Assignment

Class Level(s):

Any Level

Class Size(s):

Any

Usage Notes

* This assignment requires that students have read research on personal networks/ego networks/support networks. The exact readings may vary, but in my use of this assignment students have read Marsden 1987 (Core Discussion Networks of Americans), Feld 1981 (The Focused Organization of Social Ties), Wellman 1979 (The Community Question), Wellman and...

Learning Goals and Assessments

Learning Goal(s):

1. 1. Develop a deeper understanding of social network survey methods than can be gleaned from reading journal articles.
2. 2. Demonstrate knowledge of processes that shape social networks.
3. 3. Demonstrate knowledge of how variations in data collection methods shape observed networks.

Goal Assessment(s):

1. 1. All three goals are assessed from the papers in which students analyze their networks.