Social Network Analysis Glossary Adapted from V. Carolan, Terms,” Social Network Analysis and Education: Theory, “Key Methods & Applications (SAGE, 2014, http://www.sagepub.com/carolan/study/materials/KeyTerms.pdf); Datavu, to Network Analysis terminology” (); “Introduction Katharina Zweig, Introductory Course on Network Analysis” (). “An Basic Terms Social network A finite set (or sets) of actors and the relations defined on them. It consists of three elements: (1) a set of actors; (2) each actor has a set of individual attributes; and (3) a set of ties that defines at least one relation among actors. Graph A common way to visually represent social networks, consisting of two dimensions: actors and relations (also called nodes and edges). Node Nodes are the entities in graph (also called vectors). For example, if we consider Facebook friends as a graph, then every friend is a node. Edge are the relationships between nodes. For example, if we consider Facebook friends as a graph then every friendship is an edge. Image via Types of Graphs Undirected When the relationship is always valid in both directions, then it is called undirected graph. If Dave is friends with Raj on Facebook, then Raj is also friends with Dave. Directed graph When the relationship may not be valid in both directions (connecting nodes), then it is called a directed graph. If Bill is following Steve on Twitter and Steve is not following Bill, the relationship is directed. Image via http://www.codediesel.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/d-graph1.gif
Social Network Analysis Glossary Adapted from V. Carolan, “Key Terms,” Social Network Analysis and Education: Theory, Methods & Applications (SAGE, 2014, http://www.sagepub.com/carolan/study/materials/KeyTerms.pdf); Datavu, “Introduction to Network Analysis terminology” (); Katharina Zweig, “An Introductory Course on Network Analysis” (). Basic Terms Social network A finite set (or sets) of actors and the relations defined on them. It consists of three elements: (1) a set of actors; (2) each actor has a set of individual attributes; and (3) a set of ties that defines at least one relation among actors. Graph A common way to visually represent social networks, consisting of two dimensions: actors and relations (also called nodes and edges). Node Nodes are the entities in graph (also called vectors). For example, if we consider Facebook friends as a graph, then every friend is a node. Edge are the relationships between nodes. For example, if we consider Facebook friends as a graph then every friendship is an edge. Image via Types of Graphs Undirected When the relationship is always valid in both directions, then it is called undirected graph. If Dave is friends with Raj on Facebook, then Raj is also friends with Dave. Directed graph When the relationship may not be valid in both directions (connecting nodes), then it is called a directed graph. If Bill is following Steve on Twitter and Steve is not following Bill, the relationship is directed. Image via http://www.codediesel.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/d-graph1.gif