Unit name | Social Networks |
---|---|
Unit code | SOCIM0020 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | M/7 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
Unit director | Dr. McAndrew |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
Students will be unable to take this Unit if they have already taken the equivalent H level unit SOCI30100 |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
This unit will examine the importance of networks for social life and the rise of the ‘network society’. In introductory sessions the unit investigates concepts such as connectedness, social support and homophily (the tendency of ‘birds of a feather to flock together’) as well as how to determine how central someone is to a social network. The remainder of the unit investigates a number of different examples of the study of networks in social life, such as:
Social Network Analysis (SNA) has become more prominent in recent years. It provides a relational perspective compatible with a wide range of theoretical positions, and methods available for studying social networks complement traditional qualitative and quantitative methods. New areas of application include criminal networks, terrorist networks, online networks, cultural networks, and economic networks. Outside sociology, network analysis is used by biologists, psychologists, in economic and business research, and in linguistics. The unit will provide training in analysing social networks using NetDraw, a simple network visualisation program. No prior knowledge of SNA or NetDraw is assumed. Students will be shown how to make lists of links between individuals and how to import these lists to create network diagrams for visual presentation. These practical skills are attractive to employers in a number of sectors, such as digital media agencies, the Civil Service, think tanks, policing, and research organisations.
On completion of this unit successful students will be able to:
• Critically evaluate key texts in the study of social relationships and social networks;
• define, assess and utilise network concepts such as social capital, homophily, centrality, clique, bonding, bridging;
• compile detailed information on social ties from offline or online social networks, and create network diagrams and measures using NetDraw;
• offer sophisticated responses to claims related to the benefits and risks of bonding and bridging social ties.
1 hour lecture and 2 hour computer lab/seminar per week.
Group project: 1500 word research report (15%, incorporating a peer evaluation worth 5%).
3,000 word essay (85%).
Both assessments assess all learning outcomes