WK 10.2 Reading Social Network - Hanane Ben Abdeslam

A social network is a social structure made up of a set of individuals or organizations, to social interact between them. The social network perspective provides a set of methods for analyzing the structure of whole social entities as well as a variety of theories explaining the patterns observed in these structures. The social network is useful in the social sciences to study relationships between individuals, groups, organizations, or even entire societies. Furthermore, the term is used to describe a social structure determined by such interactions. Furthermore, social networks are the subject of study in sociology and social psychology. Different social networks can be identified. In a family, school, streets, or in an office where people see and speak to each other every day, the intensive social contacts have a different influence than, for example, among scientists who see each other at conference once a year. To investigate group processes, sociologists often study social networks, to map out these networks in schools. For example, questionnaires list all of a student’s classmates, after which they are asked question, these network questions can be used to map the relationships in a class. In addition, a social network diagram is also referred to as a sociogram. If for example, the school performance or problem behavior of students is subsequently determined, it can be investigated whether students influence each other’s performance or behavior. Moreover, scientific studies of social networks are also interesting for all kinds of organization such as business. If the knowledge about the function of social networks is used, the right person can often be put in the right place. This promotes cooperation and reduces conflict. 

What is new to me is that this theory studies of how people, organizations or groups interact with others inside their network. Understanding social networking is easier when you examine the individual pieces starting with the largest element, which is networks, and working down to the smallest element, which is the actors.

If networks were just a list of your close friends or the people you work with, there would be nothing to study. Do you agree or disagree?

Hanane Ben Abdeslam

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