Elizabeth Bonsignore|Cody Dunne|Dana Rotman|Marc A. Smith|Tony Capone|Derek L. Hansen|Ben Shneiderman
First Steps to Netviz Nirvana: Evaluating Social Network Analysis with NodeXL
University of Maryland, College Park|Human Computer Interaction (Switzerland)|University of Maryland, College Park|University of Maryland, College Park|University of Maryland, College Park|Microsoft (Finland)|University of Maryland, College Park|Human Computer Interaction (Switzerland)|University of Maryland, College Park
social network analysis sna evolved popular standard method modeling meaningful often hidden structural relationships communities existing sna tools often involve extensive preprocessing intensive programming skills challenge practitioners students alike nodexl opensource template microsoft excel integrates library common network metrics graph layout algorithms within familiar spreadsheet format offering potentially lowbarriertoentry framework teaching learning sna present preliminary findings 2 user studies 21 graduate students engaged sna using nodexl majority students information professionals little technical background experience sna techniques six participants technical backgrounds chosen specifically experience graph drawing information visualization primary objectives 1 evaluate nodexl sna tool broad base users 2 explore methods teaching sna complementary dual casestudy format demonstrates usability nodexl diverse set users significantly power tightly integrated metricsvisualization tool spark insight facilitate sensemaking students sna