Social Network

Definition

1.

From the Wikipedia:

"A social network is a social structure made of nodes (which are generally individuals or organizations) that are tied by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as values, visions, idea, financial exchange, friends, kinship, dislike, conflict, trade, web links, sexual relations, disease transmission (epidemiology), or airline routes. The resulting structures are often very complex.

Social Network Analysis views social relationships in terms of nodes and ties. Nodes are the individual actors within the networks, and ties are the relationships between the actors. There can be many kinds of ties between the nodes. Research in a number of academic fields has shown that social networks operate on many levels, from families up to the level of nations, and play a critical role in determining the way problems are solved, organizations are run, and the degree to which individuals succeed in achieving their goals.

In its simplest form, a social network is a map of all of the relevant ties between the nodes being studied. The network can also be used to determine the social capital of individual actors. These concepts are often displayed in a social network diagram, where nodes are the points and ties are the lines." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_network_analysis)

2.

Mike Gotta:

"A social network is composed of a collection of actors where some actors are connected to each other by one of more relations. The emphasis on a network that reflects a social structure forms an underlying assumption. Understanding social networks requires analysis of the structural relations between actors and the patterns of interaction among actors. Once comprehended, the influence of social networks on the perceptions, beliefs and actions of its participants can be better comprehended." (http://mikeg.typepad.com/perceptions/2008/04/social-networks.html)

More Information

1. Relational Data